Federal agents arrested 21-year-old Kevin Ortiz last Thursday in Bridgeport, Connecticut, after Fort Worth detectives linked him to a string of five armed robberies in February that investigators say netted just under $19,000. Authorities allege Ortiz targeted small businesses across the city and then left the area between incidents. Investigators say the case is still very much active as they process evidence and coordinate with federal partners, a pattern officers highlighted in a social media update, per the Fort Worth Police Department.
In February of 2026, the City of Fort Worth had a series of five armed robberies believed to be committed by the same individual. The suspect in this case was later identified as 21-year-old Kevin Ortiz. The total currency taken was just under $19,000.
— Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) March 19, 2026
The following offense… pic.twitter.com/oH6uuIkfLq
A Fort Worth detective assigned as a task force officer worked with the FBI Bridgeport to locate Ortiz, and the FBI took him into custody on March 12. Fort Worth police say the Criminal Tracking Unit executed a search warrant at Ortiz’s Fort Worth residence and seized multiple items investigators say further tie him to the robberies. The department’s Real Time Crime Center reportedly provided identifying information that showed the suspect would sometimes flee the city between alleged hits.
FBI Coordination Across State Lines
Local and federal agencies often team up when suspects cross jurisdictions, which allows for arrests outside the city and coordinated searches. The Dallas field office's press releases document repeated collaboration with local police on violent-crime probes, illustrating how regional FBI resources can be used in cases that stretch beyond one state. Those joint efforts are detailed in updates from FBI Dallas.
How Investigators Say Ortiz Operated
Fort Worth police listed five robbery scenes across the Seminary, Forrest Park, Deen Road and Vickery corridors and say Ortiz used tactics aimed at limiting his time inside businesses and avoiding tracking afterward. Investigators allege he propped doors so they would not lock, wore distinct clothing that later helped match surveillance footage, and arrived in a vehicle with its license plates removed. Police posted report numbers linked to the five cases and said the total currency taken was just under $19,000, and they say multiple items seized in the warrant connect Ortiz to the incidents, according to the Fort Worth Police Department.
What Investigators Say Comes Next
The Fort Worth Robbery Unit continues to investigate while evidence is processed and compared across the cases. As of yesterday, Fort Worth police had not released charging documents publicly, and it was not clear whether federal charges would be filed following the arrest in Connecticut. Officials say they will provide updates as the investigation moves forward and as victims and affected business owners are notified.
