Venezuelan nationals charged in $529K ATM jackpotting scheme at I-95 rest stops, feds say

Four Venezuelan nationals are accused of turning Connecticut rest-stop ATMs into cash-spewing machines successful a "jackpotting" strategy that netted much than $529,000 successful little than 2 weeks, national prosecutors said.

The alleged unit deed ATMs on Interstate 95 and astatine different Connecticut locations betwixt Aug. 8 and Aug. 18, 2025, utilizing specialized hardware and malware to unit the machines to dispense their cash, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

Prosecutors allege that Euclides Moreno Itanare, 28, of Raleigh, North Carolina; Willian Ricardo Flores, 49, of the Bronx, New York; Alberto Jose Freites Arvilla, 41, of Queens, New York; and Luis Jose Freites Arvilla, 38, of Lynn, Massachusetts were arrested June 25 and charged with interstate proscription of stolen spot and conspiracy.

All 4 are citizens of Venezuela, prosecutors said.

VENEZUELAN GANG MEMBERS WHO ENTERED US ILLEGALLY PLEAD GUILTY TO GUNNING DOWN TWO UNARMED AMERICANS

The men allegedly utilized specialized hardware and malware to entree ATMs, unit them to dispense currency and determination much than $529,000 successful stolen wealth crossed authorities lines, according to prosecutors. (U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut)

Federal authorities said the men targeted ATMs successful Milford and Ansonia, arsenic good arsenic I-95 remainder stops successful Fairfield, Branford, Madison and Darien.

GLOBAL SCAM CRACKDOWN LEADS TO 276 ARRESTS

In 1 alleged haul, the unit stole $136,000 from an ATM astatine the I-95 northbound remainder halt successful Fairfield, according to prosecutors. Other alleged thefts included $84,000 from an I-95 southbound remainder halt successful Madison, $66,400 from an I-95 northbound remainder halt successful Branford and aggregate hits successful Darien totaling much than $177,000.

Euclides Moreno Itanare, Willian Ricardo Flores, Alberto Jose Freites Arvilla and Luis Jose Freites Arvilla allegedly opened ATM hoods, accessed interior components, utilized cards and PINs to marque the machines spit retired cash, past took turns collecting the wealth implicit hourslong thefts, according to prosecutors. (U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut)

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Prosecutors said the alleged strategy followed a akin signifier each time: 1 fishy acted arsenic a lookout portion different opened the ATM’s hood and accessed its interior components.

Over the adjacent respective hours, the men allegedly took turns walking up to the compromised ATM and collecting currency arsenic it was dispensed.

The suspects sometimes changed apparel to debar drafting attraction erstwhile returning to the aforesaid instrumentality aggregate times, according to tribunal documents.

Investigators said the lawsuit was built successful portion connected surveillance footage, telephone records, Google and Apple relationship records, and photos allegedly recovered from the suspects’ devices.

According to the transgression ailment reviewed by Fox News Digital, 1 suspect’s Apple relationship contained photos of victimized ATMs earlier and during the thefts, images of currency successful a conveyance and achromatic integrative bags, and photos allegedly showing suspects counting wealth successful New York hours aft a Connecticut rest-stop theft.

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One attempted deed astatine a Cumberland Farms ATM successful Ansonia was blocked due to the fact that a bundle spot protected the instrumentality from that benignant of theft, prosecutors said.

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All 4 men are presently detained. If convicted, the stolen-property complaint carries up to 10 years successful national prison, portion the conspiracy complaint carries up to 5 years. Fox News Digital has reached retired to attorneys for Flores, Luis Arvilla and Alberto Arvilla.

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The FBI is investigating the lawsuit with assistance from Connecticut State Police, the Raleigh Police Department and the New York City Police Department. Officials said the probe remains ongoing arsenic authorities look into whether the aforesaid alleged unit tin beryllium tied to different ATM thefts.

The ailment alleges photos from 1 suspect’s Apple relationship showed astatine slightest immoderate of the men counting ample amounts of currency successful New York hours aft the Connecticut ATM thefts. (U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut)

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"Jackpotting" incidents are connected the emergence successful the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI.

In a study issued successful February, national investigators said that of 1,900 ATM jackpotting incidents reported since 2020, implicit 700 of them with much than $20 cardinal successful losses occurred successful 2025 alone.