An Elsmere man, Martin Ortiz-Lozano, 34, has been sentenced to fifteen years in prison after being convicted on multiple felony charges, including Delaware’s first-ever conviction under a Forced Labor statute that was enacted in 2014.
The charges stem from actions that began in September 2021, when Ortiz-Lozano brought his minor child to Delaware from Mexico and forced the child to work arduous labor every day of the week. Officials said during this period, the child was not enrolled in school and was subject to daily assaults, resulting in serious physical injuries including facial fractures, a collapsed nasal passage, and displaced teeth. The child had to undergo extensive and complicated surgery to repair the physical damage sustained from the abuse.
The case was investigated by Detective Scott Sowden of the Elsmere Police Department in collaboration with the Department of Justice. The conviction and subsequent sentencing were facilitated by a team of legal and medical professionals. Deputy Attorney General Nikki Warner, Nurse Analyst Lauren Welling, Paralegal Jayna Quillen, Social Worker Bettina Jones, Investigator Guillermo Santiago, and Legal Assistant Luz Zermeno were key contributors to the case. Additionally, support was provided by Michael Cooksey, the Investigation Coordinator of the Office of the Child Advocate.
Ortiz-Lozano pleaded guilty to two counts of Child Abuse in the First Degree and one count of Human Trafficking a Minor – Forced Labor.
This conviction marks the first time that someone has been convicted under the state’s Forced Labor statute, which was put into law seven years ago.
