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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY EXCLUSIVE, Nov 21 – Marcell Dezarraga Ortiz was charged with child pornography, selling videos of herself haveng sex with a less than 12-year-old child. 

It is a multi-defendant case - but this time, victims' voices were heard, and the Marshals were called in. Inner City Press was the only media there.

 On May 10, 2023 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo held a change of plea proceeding.

 Ortiz said she did it in Amsterdam, New York - and cried. The Assistant US Attorney said they have, as evidence, videos from the cell phone of co-defendant Johnny Roman.

  In the gallery with Inner City Press was a man in a red cap and sneakers. He shouted, loudly once the proceeding was over, "How would you feel it is was your kid?" He said Ortiz has a two month old child and he "hopes she has a conscience."

  The plea deal is for 240 months; sentencing is set for August 10 at 3 pm. Victims' rights law would seem to require notification, along a shouted complaint was made on May 10 about how difficult it was for victims to find out about this case. Inner City Press will continue to report on it - it was the first, and still seeming the only:

"Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge J. Paul Oetken: Arraignment as to Amy Reyes (6) Count 1s held on 5/9/2023. Defendant present with attorney Joshua D. Kirshner, AUSA Rebecca Dell present; Court Reporter present. Change of Plea Hearing held. Fld. Information and Waiver of Indictment. Defendant sworn and the Court accepts the defendant's change of plea to Guilty as to count 1. The sentencing date is set for September 22, 2023 at 11:00 am. The defendants sentencing submission is due by September8, 2023 and the Government's submission is due September 15, 2023. The PSR was ordered and bail is continued. (See transcript) (Sentencing set for 9/22/2023 at 11:00 AM before Judge J. Paul Oetken) (ap)

On May 1, an earlier guilty plea in the case: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron: Deft. present with counsel Ms Colson; AUSA Dell and Court Reporter are present. Arraignment as to Noelia Marie Davila (7) Count 1s held on 5/1/2023., Plea entered by Noelia Marie Davila (7) Guilty as to Count 1s., As to Noelia Marie Davila. USMJ Aaron recommends acceptance of the plea. ( Sentencing set for 9/7/2023 at 12:00 PM before Judge J. Paul Oetken.)"

Because of complaints about victims not informed, Inner City Press on May 31 is publishing this new sentencing information, with the location added: "NOTICE as to Kaitlyn Rivera: The sentencing hearing is moved to August 2, 2023 at 3:00 PM and will be held in courtroom 706 of 40 Foley Square."

On July 14, Kaitlyn Rivera's lawyer wrote in to postpone her sentencing. It is now set for September 20.

On September 9, Kaitlyn Rivera's lawyer wrote in and asked for a non-custodian sentence. He said Johnny Roman was entirely responsible.

On September 20, Kaitlyn Rivera got four months: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge J. Paul Oetken: Sentencing held on 9/20/2023 for Kaitlyn Rivera... Defendant is sentenced to 4 months incarceration with 5 years of supervised release. Defendant is to pay a special assessment of $100 and is to surrender on November 6, 2023."

On September 11, co-defendant Mariah Jaquez likewise asked for time served, in a redacted submission. The submission says Roman posed as a woman named "Ashley Banks" and told her to download Kik...

On September 12, the US Attorney's Office wrote it that Jaquez should get at least a year, and attached a two dozen page sting of texts between her and Roman.

On September 19, despite the texts, Jaquez got a time served sentence: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge J. Paul Oetken: Sentencing held on 9/19/2023 for Mariah Jaquez (3) Count 1s. Defendant is sentenced to Time Served with 5 years of supervised release. Defendant is to pay a special assessment of $100."

And on October 19, another time served sentence: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge J. Paul Oetken: Sentencing held on 10/17/2023 for Noelia Marie Davila (7) Count 1s. Sentencing held: Defendant is sentenced to Time Served with 5 years of supervised release. Defendant is to pay a special assessment of $100."

On November 13, 2023 the US wrote in regarding first named defendant Gennie Harrison, and asked for four years, citing two victims and something it redacted.

On November 21, Harrison got time served. Johnny Roman's sentencing was rescheduled for December 18 at 3 pm.

More on Substack here.

The case is US v. Harrison, et al., 21-cr-190 (Oetken)

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