A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City has indicted Joseph Troy Ortega, 57, of West Valley City, Utah, on a charge of credit union robbery. The indictment follows an alleged incident at the Cyprus Credit Union in West Valley City on August 28, 2025.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers from the West Valley City Police Department and the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force responded to reports of a robbery at the credit union. Authorities allege that Ortega entered the branch, approached a teller, and demanded money. The teller provided $3,690 in cash before Ortega left the scene in a black Toyota Rav 4 with its license plate obscured.
Investigators used facial recognition technology from the Statewide Information Analysis Center to identify Ortega as a suspect. A vehicle registered in his name was later observed and stopped by police on 5600 West and 3500 South. Officers arrested Ortega, who was alone in the car. During a search of the vehicle, police found a wallet containing U.S. currency, an envelope with $2,690 inside, narcotics, and related paraphernalia.
Ortega made his initial appearance on September 15, 2025. A three-day jury trial is set for November 24, 2025 at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah announced the indictment.
The investigation is being conducted jointly by the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force and West Valley City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda is prosecuting the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
The case falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative involving multiple agencies within the Department of Justice aimed at combating violent crime and organized criminal activity through coordinated efforts such as OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhoods programs.
Authorities emphasized that “an indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
