Robert J. "Bob" Troester U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma
Isael Antonio Ortiz, 27, of Oklahoma City, has been found guilty of possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction and of witness tampering. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Ortiz was charged by a federal grand jury on January 6, 2026, with being a felon in possession of a firearm and with witness tampering. On February 10, 2026, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on October 14, 2024, the Oklahoma City Police Department responded to an assault with a dangerous weapon outside a local business. The victim reported that Ortiz struck his vehicle and broke the driver’s-side window before pulling out a gun from his pants. Ortiz left the scene after noticing surveillance cameras. Police later detained him at his home, executed a search warrant, and seized a firearm.
Further evidence indicated that while in custody, Ortiz attempted to persuade a witness to falsely claim ownership of the firearm and say that Ortiz did not know about it. He did this through phone calls, text messages, and communication via third parties.
Ortiz has prior felony convictions including eluding police in Canadian County (case CF-2018-106), use of a vehicle in discharge of a weapon and related offenses in Oklahoma County (case CF-2019-5007), as well as rioting and property destruction charges in Oklahoma County (case CF-2020-2901).
At sentencing, Ortiz could face up to 35 years in federal prison and fines totaling $500,000.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Oklahoma City Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Laney Ellis are prosecuting the case. SAUSA Ellis is an attorney for the City of Oklahoma City whose position is funded by Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime through partnerships between law enforcement agencies and communities.
"SAUSA Ellis is an attorney with the City of Oklahoma City whose position is funded by a federal Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) grant awarded to the City of Oklahoma City to enhance efforts to address and reduce violent crime," according to the press release. "PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone."
Additional information can be found in public filings.
