Omar Ortiz

Omar Ortiz Uribe (born 13 March 1976) is a Mexican former professional footballer and convicted kidnapper. He played as as a goalkeeper, making his debut in 1997 with Monterrey.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ortiz and the second or maternal family name is Uribe.
Omar Ortiz
Personal information
Full name Omar Ortiz Uribe
Date of birth (1976-03-13) 13 March 1976
Place of birth Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2001 Monterrey 30 (0)
2001–2003 Atlético Celaya 32 (0)
2002 → Monterrey (loan) 17 (0)
2003 → Necaxa (loan) 7 (0)
2003–2007 Chiapas 162 (0)
2008–2009 Necaxa 38 (0)
2009 Atlante 0 (0)
2009–2010 Monterrey
Total 286 (0)
International career
2002 Mexico 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He later spent several successful seasons at Atletico Celaya and Jaguares de Chiapas. During his time at Celaya, he earned one cap for Mexico, which came against Guatemala during the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Ortiz made his Atlante debut on February 25, 2009, during a CONCACAF Champions League semi-final against Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer. In May 2010, he was banned from football for two years for twice testing positive for the banned steroids oxymetholone and masteron.[1]

Ortiz is popularly known for his nickname El Gato (English: The Cat) for his "feline face" and green eyes.[2]

Arrest and conviction

On January 6, 2012, rumors began to spread of him being kidnapped,[3] but it was later confirmed that the Mexican authorities had arrested him outside his home in Monterrey after two kidnapping suspects were detained and confessed his involvement in the kidnappings.[4] After a couple of days, Ortiz's family members decided to report on his disappearance, but the authorities first refused to comment on the incident.[5] Upon his arrest, Ortiz was charged for working with a gang responsible for at least 20 kidnappings, among them the abduction of Gloria Trevi's husband in 2011.[6] The 35-year-old Ortiz admitted to have picked out two rich people for the kidnapping ring, since his job was to select wealthy families from his same social circle.[7] The gang allegedly demanded around 1 million pesos ($59,500 US dollars [Nov. 2015]) for the release of each victim.[8] He later confessed that the kidnapping ring was working for the infamous criminal organization known as the Gulf Cartel.[9][10]

Reports from the government of Nuevo León mentioned that Ortiz had an addiction to cocaine.[11] In fact, La Jornada newspaper mentions that Ortiz became part of the kidnapping ring due to his drug addiction.[12] Ortiz also confessed to have experienced "financial problems" after he was banned for playing professional football for two years after consuming illegal substances.[13] George W. Grayson, a drug war analyst and expert of Mexican politics, said that Ortiz's arrest shows the "possible ubiquity of organized crime [in Mexico]."[14]

He was sent to a prison in Cadereyta, Nuevo León.[15] He was found guilty of at least three kidnappings and was sentenced to 75 years in prison on 8 January 2019.[16]

References
  1. "Omar Ortiz Uribe banned for positive steroid test". Fourfourtwo.com. 10 May 2010. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  2. Cordera, Santiago (10 January 2012). "Un 'Gato' de garras muy peligrosas" [A 'Cat' with very dangerous claws]. Yahoo! News (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  3. "Mexican Soccer Star "El Gato" Arrested in Kidnapping Case". Fox News. 8 January 2012. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  4. "Suspended Mexican Soccer Goalie Detained in Kidnap". ABC News. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  5. "Reportan desaparición del 'Gato' Ortiz, ex portero Rayado". El Universal (in Spanish). 6 January 2012. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  6. "Mexican footballer arrested over links to kidnapping gang". The Guardian. London. 8 January 2012. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  7. "Omar 'El Gato' Ortiz arrested". ESPN. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  8. Sandle, Tim. "Mexican footballer Omar Ortiz arrested in kidnap-ring scandal". Digital Journal. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  9. Sanchez, Ray (8 January 2012). "Omar Ortiz: Mexican Soccer Goalie Arrested For Alleged Role In Kidnapping Of Pop Star Gloria Trevi's Husband". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  10. "Mexico goalkeeper arrested over kidnappings". Al Jazeera. 8 January 2012. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  11. Garza, Aracely. "Acusan al portero de Monterrey El Gato Ortiz de secuestrador". Excelsior (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  12. Arroyo, Maria Alejandra. "El futbolista Gato Ortiz, arrestado por secuestro". La Jornada (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  13. ""El Gato" Ortiz presentado a las autoridades". Adiccion Rayada (in Spanish). 7 January 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  14. Lopez, Gabriela (8 January 2012). "Mexico goalkeeper arrested for helping kidnap gang". Reuters. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  15. "El exportero acusado de secuestro Omar Ortiz fue internado en un penal". CNNMexico (in Spanish). 20 January 2012. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  16. "Sentencian al Gato Ortiz a 75 años de prisión". Medio Tiempo (in Spanish). 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019.

The paintings of artist Omar Ortiz (2014)

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