Two individuals, believed to be part of the gang Tren De Aragua (TdA), which has ties to Venezuela, are facing charges related to an ATM jackpotting scheme that involved incidents of theft and attempted theft across multiple states in New England, as per statements from federal prosecutors.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced that Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrz and Lestter Guerrero, both aged 29, are charged with conspiracy to commit bank theft.

Authorities revealed that both accused men are residing in the United States illegally.

The charges allege that the pair targeted ATMs in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. They purportedly used malware to manipulate the ATM’s software, compelling the machines to release all their cash reserves.

Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrz is one of the individuals charged with conspiracy to commit bank theft. (Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts)

Prosecutors have disclosed that there is an ongoing federal investigation into a widespread conspiracy, allegedly orchestrated by members of TdA, to extract funds from ATMs through a tactic known as ATM jackpotting, which involves the use of malware.

Martinez Gutierrez and Guerrero were arrested on Feb. 5 in Augusta, Maine, after an attempted ATM jackpotting robbery, according to charging documents.  

Martinez Gutierrez is allegedly connected to at least five other ATM jackpotting robberies across New England, including robberies on Dec. 31 in Norwich, Connecticut; Jan. 20 in Braintree, Massachusetts; Jan. 30 in Rochester, New Hampshire; and attempted robberies Jan. 14 in Coventry, Rhode Island, Jan. 19 in Stoneham, Massachusetts.

Lestter Guerrero is seen pointing his cellphone at an ATM with Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrz in the passenger seat. (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts)

Guerrero is allegedly connected to at least one additional jackpotting robbery, with Martinez Gutierrez, on Jan. 30 in Rochester, New Hampshire.

If convicted on the conspiring to commit bank theft charge, the pair could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

TdA has allegedly developed revenue sources through a range of criminal activities, including ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars from financial institutions, prosecutors said in court documents.

The two men were arrested on Feb. 5 in Augusta, Me., after an attempted ATM jackpotting robbery. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

Jackpotting proceeds are typically distributed amongst the gang’s members and associates to conceal its derivation, according to the court documents. 

The members are often told to split the proceeds from a jackpot operation with 50% earmarked and sent to gang leadership in Venezuela and 50% divided among the individuals conducting ground operations.

Related Article