Arrest made in possible food bank scam (+MUG)

A 29-year-old Pecos man was arrested at noon Thursday in connection with a possible scam using the West Texas Food Bank’s name.

Sgt. Deputy Jerry Millan of the Reeves County Sheriff’s Office said Rick Ornelas Ortiz was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence in connection with a fraud case that is still under investigation.

West Texas Food Bank officials warned residents Wednesday of a possible scam in which Millan said he saw Ortiz selling $2 raffle tickets door to door on behalf of the West Texas Food Bank.

Ortiz was supposedly telling residents that he would return to the residents’ homes with the raffle tickets, which would be for a 9-inch TV prize to be awarded after the Super Bowl, according to a news release on the food bank’s website.

Because the fraud is still under investigation, Millan said he could not release the number of people who gave money to Ortiz.

@OAcityLife