The man accused of squatting in an out-of-town Army veteran’s New Port Richey home has been arrested yet again.
This time, police said 42-year-old Julio Ortiz is one of several suspects behind a bank robbery Monday morning.
Police said Ortiz used his girlfriend, Fatima Cardoso’s Honda Accord as the getaway car, after holding up a Wells Fargo bank on Massachusetts Avenue.
Police said a tip quickly came in leading them right to the car, which was parked in front of a home on Greenwood Street.
Police said Ortiz had been living there, ever since leaving his former place of residence in Veteran’s Village.
Ortiz and Cardoso are accused of squatting at that home from last December until the end of April.
While the Pasco Sheriff’s Office couldn’t legally remove them, the pair was pressured to leave by multiple veteran’s organizations.
Deputies then arrested both Ortiz and Cardoso a few days later for grand theft, saying they stole utilities during their stay.
Police said Ortiz bonded out of the Land O’ Lakes Jail on Friday and found himself in trouble again, just days later.
“He was busy,” said New Port Richey Police Chief Kim Bogart. “He got with his buddies, apparently arranged for this bank robbery and less than 24 hours later, he’s going back to jail.”
Neighbors said there has been nothing but trouble going on since Ortiz moved in and hope he stays behind bars with this latest robbery charge. Chief Bogart said those are his intentions.
“We’ve got him dead to rights,” Bogart said. “And I think he’s going to go away for a very long time.”
Another man was taken into custody along with Ortiz, who has been charged with armed robbery. Police said they are still looking for at least one more suspect.