Five Venezuelans Plead Guilty to ATM Jackpotting Scheme Across U.S.
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WASHINGTON — Federal authorities have received additional corroborating reports regarding the ATM jackpotting scheme involving five Venezuelan nationals. These new developments further substantiate the scope of the coordinated malware attacks targeting automated teller machines in Kansas and South Carolina. The influx of independent confirmations strengthens the evidentiary basis for the guilty pleas entered by Luis Alberto Velasquez-Artigas, Royder Adrian Figuera-Perez, Javier Mejia Jr., Gabriel Alexjandro Corales-Garcia, and Italo Lizandro Corrales-Carrillo. While the initial court appearances occurred on September 1, 2026, this latest information provides further validation of the criminal network's operations across the United States. Prosecutors indicate that these additional reports align with the timeline and methods previously outlined in the indictment, offering a more comprehensive picture of the financial theft attempt. No new defendants have been named at this time, but the confirmed details reinforce the severity of the cybercrime case currently before the federal court.
WASHINGTON — Five Venezuelan nationals pleaded guilty on Monday to a coordinated scheme involving the use of malware to empty automated teller machines in Kansas and South Carolina, authorities said.
Luis Alberto Velasquez-Artigas, Royder Adrian Figuera-Perez, Javier Mejia Jr., Gabriel Alexjandro Corales-Garcia, and Italo Lizandro Corrales-Carrillo admitted to attempting to steal cash through a series of "ATM jackpotting" attacks. The defendants appeared in federal court on September 1, 2026, where they entered pleas to charges related to computer fraud and conspiracy.
The criminal enterprise relied on sophisticated malware injected into the operating systems of ATMs. Once the software compromised the machines, it allowed the group to manipulate the devices to dispense cash without requiring valid transactions or account balances. The attacks targeted financial institutions in two states, with specific incidents confirmed in Kansas and South Carolina. Prosecutors stated the group's primary motive was financial gain through the direct theft of currency from bank dispensers.
ATM jackpotting has emerged as a significant threat to banking infrastructure, where criminals exploit vulnerabilities in machine software to bypass security protocols. In this case, the five suspects worked together to identify vulnerable locations, deploy the malicious code remotely, and coordinate the physical collection of the dispensed funds. The scheme resulted in substantial financial losses for the targeted banks before law enforcement intervened.
The defendants are scheduled for sentencing at a later date. Under federal guidelines, convictions for computer fraud and conspiracy carry significant prison terms and mandatory restitution orders. Authorities have not yet disclosed the total amount of money stolen during the campaign or whether additional suspects remain at large.
Federal officials emphasized that the guilty pleas mark a major disruption to the network but did not specify if the group had operated in other jurisdictions prior to their arrest. The investigation into the full scope of the operation continues, with prosecutors reviewing digital evidence to determine if other victims were involved beyond the confirmed incidents in Kansas and South Carolina.
The case highlights the evolving nature of cyber-enabled financial crimes, where remote access to physical banking terminals allows perpetrators to execute thefts across state lines without physically breaching bank vaults. As sentencing approaches, courts will consider the extent of the damage caused by the malware and the role each defendant played in planning and executing the attacks.