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| “ | There was no quid pro quo. | „ |
| ~ Ortiz trying to deny extorting sex from women in return for housing. |
Ruben Ortiz is a supporting antagonist in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing" and "And the Empire Strikes Back", and an overarching antagonist in the episode "Never Turn Your Back on Them". He is a member of a sex trafficking ring that pimps out homeless and at-risk women in return for housing.
He was portrayed by Ryan Garbayo.
Overview[]
Ortiz is Congressman Justin Howard's Chief of Staff, arranging Howard's schedule and keeping him in touch with New York City's political elite; he is also Howard's fixer, making sure that the Congressman's frequent liaisons with underage girls remain secret by paying off his victims (using taxpayer money) and destroying evidence of his crimes.
He is also involved with a sex trafficking ring, run by corrupt philanthropist Catalina Machado, that pimps out homeless and at-risk women in return for giving them free housing. In addition to introducing the women to Machado, he covers up for Howard, who frequently visits the housing projects to abuse the women's young daughters. He also has a sexual relationship with one of the at-risk women, Nelly.
Appearances[]
"Wolves in Sheep's Clothing"[]
One of the trafficking ring's victims, Rosa Estrada, is reported to the police by a neighbor on suspicion of prostitution, but the case is moved to the NYPD's Special Victims Unit when she accuses Paulie Banducci, the building's superintendent and one of Machado's underlings, of raping her. Rosa tells SVU Captain Olivia Benson that Ortiz set her up with Machado and Banducci, so she has Detectives Fin Tutuola, Amanda Rollins, and Kat Tamin investigate him, eventually gathering enough evidence to arrest him for sex trafficking and rape.
Benson and Assistant District Attorney Dominick Carisi Jr. meet with Ortiz and his lawyer, who both insist that the former's relationship with Nelly is consensual. Neither Benson nor Carisi believe him, but they agree to give him prosecutorial immunity if he informs on and testifies against the other members of the sex trafficking ring. Ortiz agrees to the deal, informing on Howard, Banducci, a homeless services budget director, a deputy commissioner, and a city councilman. The ensuing investigation leads to Howard, Machado, and Banducci being arrested, and the sex trafficking ring being dissolved.
"And the Empire Strikes Back"[]
Before Ortiz can testify against Howard, he is murdered - along with Machado and Banducci - by assassins hired by Myron Gold, Howard's lawyer and one of the most politically connected people in the country.
"Never Turn Your Back on Them"[]
While trying to rebuild the case against Howard, Benson, Tutuola, and Rollins discover that Ortiz arranged for Jenna Evans, a 15-year-old girl whom Howard raped and impregnated, to have an abortion that left her in pain for weeks afterward. This revelation helps the SVU team and Carisi put Howard in prison for multiple counts of both forcible and statutory rape.
External links[]
- Ruben Ortiz on the Law & Order Wiki
