Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, has announced that Michael McCann-Ortiz, also known as "Bando," aged 24 from Waterbury, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport for his involvement in a carjacking incident.
Court documents reveal that on June 18, 2023, two all-terrain vehicles were stolen from a residence in Waterbury. Following the theft, McCann-Ortiz and others identified an individual they believed was involved. That night, when Victim 1 was picked up by Victim 2 from work and driven home, their vehicle was surrounded by three other vehicles upon arrival at Victim 1's residence. McCann-Ortiz and his associates exited these vehicles; one carried an assault-style rifle.
The group demanded the return of the stolen ATVs while threatening and physically assaulting both victims. McCann-Ortiz made repeated threats to kill them and inflicted serious bodily harm on one victim through punching and kicking.
Subsequently, they stole Victim 2’s vehicle—owned by a relative of Victim 2—along with other personal items and cash from the victims. There is no evidence suggesting that Victim 1 participated in the ATV theft.
McCann-Ortiz pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury—a crime carrying a maximum penalty of up to 25 years imprisonment. Sentencing is set for May 22 under Judge Dooley.
Since July 10, 2023, McCann-Ortiz has been detained due to unrelated state charges.
The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force is leading this investigation with help from the Waterbury Police Department. The case prosecution is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan J. Guevremont and David T. Huang.
