A former Dallas anesthesiologist found guilty earlier this year of tampering with IV bags has been sentenced to 190 years behind bars on Wednesday morning.
"He got exactly what he deserved," said John Kaspar, the widower of one of the victims.
Dr. Raynaldo Riviera Ortiz Jr., 60, was accused of injecting heart-stopping drugs into five IV bags and placing them in a warming bin for other medical staff to use on their patients at Baylor Scott & White’s SurgiCare in North Dallas over five days in August 2022.
After an eight-day-trial in April, a federal jury found Ortiz guilty on 10 counts of tampering with IV bags and the adulteration of drugs.
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According to the Department of Justice, Ortiz was convicted on four counts of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of tampering with a consumer product, and five counts of intention adulation of a drug.
In a statement, the DOJ said evidence at trial showed Ortiz, "surreptitiously injected," IV bags of saline with epinephrine (a stimulant), bupivacaine (a nerve-blocking agent) and other drugs like lidocaine (an anesthetic).
During the trial, it was revealed after Ortiz placed the IV bags into a warming bin, he waited for his colleagues' to use them in surgeries, "knowing their patients would experience dangerous complications. Surveillance video introduced into evidence showed Ortiz repeatedly retrieving IV bags from the warming bin and replacing them shortly thereafter, not long before the bags were carried into operating rooms where patients experienced complications. Video also showed Ortiz mixing vials of medication and watching as victims were wheeled out by emergency responders."
Four patients suffered cardiac emergencies during low-risk cosmetic procedures, which required them to be rushed to the hospital.
Ortiz is implicated, but not charged, in the death of fellow anesthesiologist Dr. Melanic Kaspar in June 2022. Kaspar reportedly took an IV bag home to rehydrate herself and died in front of her husband. Her autopsy found a lethal dose of bupivacaine in her system.
"He killed my wife," said John Kaspar, Dr. Kaspar's husband, during impact statements Wednesday morning at the sentencing hearing. "It wasn't through malice. It was through pure calculation."
Ortiz was supposed to be sentenced in federal court in September but it was delayed until Nov. 20.
Seven victims, including Kaspar's widower, gave their impact statements to the court. The defendant waived his right to appear and was not in court Wednesday when his sentence was announced.
Chief U.S. District Judge David Godbey, who preceded over the federal trial, spoke for a moment before delivering the sentence.
He told everyone who spoke that he appreciated them, heard them and what they had to say was important. Judge Godbey went on to state that he believed Ortiz was responsible for all of the events, and said, "He did it."
Dr. Kaspar's death and six other cases of cardiac arrests were not part of the four cases in the indictment for the trial.
During sentencing, Judge Godbey said he believes Dr. Kaspar and the other unindicted victims suffered from the conduct of Dr. Ortiz and found that he caused the death of his colleague and called the other acts equivalent to attempted murder.
Ortiz was sentenced to 2,280 months in prison or 190 years.
"It's everything I wanted to hear. The judge was very kind. He said some great words. He specifically mentioned my wife's name and looked right at me and told me the things I wanted to hear the things that needed to be said out loud, 'He did it.' It was the conclusion that I think Everybody knew, he knew, I knew it And now it's been put on record," said Kaspar.
Her brother, Dr. Craig Sessions echoed it's been a emotionally difficult two years.
“The outcome is he's not getting out of jail and I think that’s very reasonable," said Sessions. "If you wanted to go back to another trial and try to convict of murder of Mel it would mostly circumstantial, so I think the outcome is what we were looking for and justified.”
During the trial, the Dr. Ortiz troubled past came to light including his disciplinary record with the Texas Medical Board, IRS issues, and criminal history for assault and cruelty to animals.
“I’ve dealt with him for a long time, he’s escaped the law may times for terrible things," said Roxanne Bogdan who was neighbors with Ortiz for 10 years. "I'm really sad that we couldn't have stopped him. Today is a small piece of justice that we got. I Just feel bad that we couldn't have stopped him earlier to stop all these other victims from happening."
She said Ortiz retaliated against her after she testified against him in court during a domestic abuse case. Her dog survived thanks to her veterinarian who was her neighbor.
“It's terribly sad that we couldn't have stopped him earlier I feel really terrible about that. We tried and tried because he was so evil on so many levels for so long and I pray for Melanie's family and her friends because he wasn't charged with that, but I think the judge did a great job," said Bogdan who said she used to be friends with Ortiz and tried to get him into help for his behavior.
"Today was justice and he's going away forever and that's where he belongs. He can't hurt anybody else except himself and what happens happens," said Bogdan.
As for Dr. Kaspar's husband, he said he'll probably never spend another minute thinking about the defendant.
"Today marks the end of a beautiful part of my life and tomorrow, I'll I'll step in a different direction," said Kaspar.
