A Bucks County man is wanted after he failed to appear in Lancaster County Court for trial last week, when he was convicted of illegal possession of a firearm.

Clifford Colon Ortiz is also wanted in a forgery case, regarding a stash of fake registration stickers and plates discovered by Pennsylvania State Police during an undercover operation in 2018.

Ortiz, 36, will be tried separately for that case.

Regarding the persons not to possess conviction, that case was tried separately because it involved a jury hearing of Ortiz’s prior convictions.

Prior convictions for burglary, robbery and firearms offenses make it illegal for Ortiz to have a firearm, according to evidence presented at trial by Assistant District Attorney Cody Wade.

Anyone with information on Ortiz’s whereabouts is asked to contact their local police department or submit tips via the button at the button of this page.

A jury deliberated for about 25 minutes on Jan. 29 before deciding the case.

ADA Wade presented evidence about state police Trooper First Class Josh Whiteside’s sting operation that led to charges.

Trooper First Class Whiteside obtained information about a transaction Ortiz was to make on Loop Road in Lancaster city.

During the transaction, Ortiz removed an envelope full of the registration stickers from a vehicle panel. A .40-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol also was in the panel.

Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle presided over trial.

Ortiz is presumed innocent in the forgery case.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright