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Two individuals believed to be part of the Venezuelan-affiliated gang known as Tren De Aragua (TdA) are facing charges in connection with an ATM jackpotting scheme that involved numerous thefts and attempted thefts throughout New England, federal prosecutors have announced.
Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrz and Lestter Guerrero, both 29 years old, are charged with conspiracy to commit bank theft, as detailed in a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Authorities have noted that both suspects are in the United States unlawfully.
The men are accused of executing robberies and attempts at theft at ATMs across several states, including Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. They allegedly manipulated the ATM systems by installing malware, which caused the machines to release all their cash reserves.
Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrz is specifically facing charges related to the conspiracy to commit bank theft, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Prosecutors said there has been an ongoing federal investigation into a nationwide conspiracy allegedly coordinated and committed by TdA members to steal money from ATMs using malware, a scheme referred to as ATM jackpotting.
Martinez Gutierrez and Guerrero were arrested on Feb. 5 in Augusta, Maine, after an attempted ATM jackpotting robbery, according to charging documents. Â
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.Â
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.
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