Ortega was taken into custody in Milwaukee on a felony warrant for shoplifting (retail theft), and she is also wanted in 8 other Wisconsin counties on shoplifting charges, and bail jumping as well.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
April 7, 2025
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, Bessie A. Ortega, 37, was taken into custody in Milwaukee on a felony warrant for 1 felony count for shoplifting over $500, and was booked in the Milwaukee County jail. Ortega had an open felony warrant, since December 2022 for alleged intentional retail theft of more than $500 dated October 27, 2021, according to Milwaukee County records.
If convicted, Ortega is facing up to 3 years in prison and 5 months in jail, and up to $10,000 in fines, or both for each felony retail theft count. She is also facing up to 6 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines, or both for each felony bail jumping count.
Also charges for misdemeanor retail theft under $500, including party to a crime, and operating a vehicle while license suspended are pending.
Ortega also has a hold from 8 other Wisconsin law enforcement agencies for shoplifting (retail thefts) charges with active felony warrants from Racine County Sheriff's Office, Appleton Police Department, Waukesha County Sheriff's Office, DuPage County Sheriff's Office, Ozuakee County Sheriff's Office, Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office, Kenosha County Sheriff's Office and Outagamie County Sheriff's Office.
• In Waukesha County, Ortega is facing 9 felony counts for retail theft of more than $500, and 5 misdemeanor counts for retail theft under $500.
• In Racine Count, Ortega is facing 2 felony counts of retail theft over $500, and was convicted in June 2022 for 1 felony count for forgery, and in June 2021 for 1 felony count for bail jumping.
• In Outagamie Couny, Ortega is facing 2 misdemeanor counts for retail theft under $500, and 3 felony counts for retail theft over $500, and 10 felony counts for bail jumping, and 2 misdemeanor counts for bail jumping.
• In Fond du Lac County, Ortega is facing 2 felony counts for retail theft over $500, and 5 felony counts for bail jumping, also as s repeater, and 1 misdemeanor count for bail jumping as a repeater.
• In Ozuakee County, Ortega is facing 1 felony count for retail theft over $500, and 2 misdemeanors for resisting/obstructing and officer and possess drug paraphernalia.
• In Kenosha County, Ortega is facing 1 felony count for retail theft over $500 and party to a crime.
Ortega is the mother of Jeremiah N. Taylor, 18, a double homicide suspect wanted in Milwaukee. Taylor remains on the run, since December 25, 2024, when he and Quintarez D. Morris, 18, did a fatal drive-by in the Southside of Milwaukee.
Both Taylor and Morris were each charged with two felony counts of 1st-degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon and party to a crime for the Christmas Day 2024, double drive-by homicides of Exziel Rivera, 15, and Nayah Vásquez, 18, at the 1100 block of S. 37 Street in the Southside of Milwaukee.
If convicted on all counts, Taylor and Morris are facing up to 60 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines, or both for each count of 1st-degree reckless homicide.