SYRACUSE, NY - On Friday, October 4th, federal prosecutors announced that six men, who are in the United States illegally from Venezuela, have been indicted for an "ATM jackpotting" scheme that targeted several banks and credit unions across Upstate New York.
According to reports, the men stole over $400,000 and are connected to a nationwide scheme that exploits physical and software vulnerabilities in ATMs to steal money. The six men have been indicted on conspiracy to commit bank larceny and four counts of bank larceny, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of New York. The men are accused of using a device to infect ATMs with malware to force withdrawals. These withdrawals were not connected to any specific customer account.
Back in June, the U.S. Secret Service put out a report warning of an uptick in ATM fraud. The report said that the agency had seen attacks in at least 15 states including New York. According to the report, the malware affected multiple brands of ATMs and is believed to have been perpetrated by at least seven "criminal groups."
The indictment against the six men from Venezuela says that between December 10, 2023, and December 16, 2023, the group hit four ATMs in Onondaga, Broome, and Chenango counties. The indictment also said that on December 10th and 11th, the group went to Empower Federal Credit Union ATMs in Syracuse and withdrew $134,000 and $150,000. On December 15th, they withdrew $48,000 from a GHS Federal Credit Union in Binghamton.
On December 16th, the group withdrew another $86,400 from a GHS Federal Credit Union in Norwich. The men have been identified as: Joelvis Jose Rivas-Solorzano, Silvio Fabian-Ordonez, Jose Medina, Jose Navarrao, Deivy Santiago Pena-Rojas, and Jefferson Jose Marquez-Marquez. According to reports, four of the men are in the country illegally and two of the men are in the country on parole after entering illegally. A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that the men entered the United States illegally through Texas and Arizona.
In a separate incident, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced the arrest of the fourth and fifth suspects in connection with dozens of ATMs robberies and auto thefts around the DMV area. According to the press release, 35-year-old Jonathan Winston of Hagerstown, Maryland, and 37-year-old Jeffrey Felder of Bowie, Maryland, were arrested in Georgia by the U.S. Marshals Service.
They are charged along with 32-year-old Stefon Janey of Accokeek, Maryland; 37-year-old Thomas Hughes of Cheverly, Maryland; and 33-year-old Jenarro Hewett of Upper Malboro, Maryland, with interference with interstate commerce by robbery and conspiracy. They are all believed to be responsible for more than 75 robberies between August 2023 and June 2024.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves said, "As alleged in the indictment, this crew conspired to commit roughly 40 brazen robberies where they used 'Jaws of Life' and similar tools to peel open ATM machines inside stores and outside banks. Even though the defendants destroyed surveillance footage and took other steps to cover their tracks, our prosecutors and law enforcement officers worked tirelessly to identify the members of this crew who terrorized our region. With all the defendants now arrested, we can work equally hard to hold them accountable for their crimes."
According to the indictment and other court documents, the defendants would target commercial businesses with ATM machines, enter the business wearing masks and gloves, and would utilize tools common to fire/rescue, such as "Jaws for Life," to pry open or cut open the doors of the store and the ATMS. The suspects would sometimes carry firearms, utilize stolen vehicles, communicate through handheld radios, and destroy surveillance.
Between August 2023 and June 2024, the indictment charges the defendants with robbing or attempting to rob at least 75 ATM machines, laundering at least some of the proceeds at casinos, and related offenses.
According to reports, the men stole over $400,000 and are connected to a nationwide scheme that exploits physical and software vulnerabilities in ATMs to steal money. The six men have been indicted on conspiracy to commit bank larceny and four counts of bank larceny, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of New York. The men are accused of using a device to infect ATMs with malware to force withdrawals. These withdrawals were not connected to any specific customer account.
Back in June, the U.S. Secret Service put out a report warning of an uptick in ATM fraud. The report said that the agency had seen attacks in at least 15 states including New York. According to the report, the malware affected multiple brands of ATMs and is believed to have been perpetrated by at least seven "criminal groups."
The indictment against the six men from Venezuela says that between December 10, 2023, and December 16, 2023, the group hit four ATMs in Onondaga, Broome, and Chenango counties. The indictment also said that on December 10th and 11th, the group went to Empower Federal Credit Union ATMs in Syracuse and withdrew $134,000 and $150,000. On December 15th, they withdrew $48,000 from a GHS Federal Credit Union in Binghamton.
On December 16th, the group withdrew another $86,400 from a GHS Federal Credit Union in Norwich. The men have been identified as: Joelvis Jose Rivas-Solorzano, Silvio Fabian-Ordonez, Jose Medina, Jose Navarrao, Deivy Santiago Pena-Rojas, and Jefferson Jose Marquez-Marquez. According to reports, four of the men are in the country illegally and two of the men are in the country on parole after entering illegally. A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that the men entered the United States illegally through Texas and Arizona.
In a separate incident, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced the arrest of the fourth and fifth suspects in connection with dozens of ATMs robberies and auto thefts around the DMV area. According to the press release, 35-year-old Jonathan Winston of Hagerstown, Maryland, and 37-year-old Jeffrey Felder of Bowie, Maryland, were arrested in Georgia by the U.S. Marshals Service.
They are charged along with 32-year-old Stefon Janey of Accokeek, Maryland; 37-year-old Thomas Hughes of Cheverly, Maryland; and 33-year-old Jenarro Hewett of Upper Malboro, Maryland, with interference with interstate commerce by robbery and conspiracy. They are all believed to be responsible for more than 75 robberies between August 2023 and June 2024.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves said, "As alleged in the indictment, this crew conspired to commit roughly 40 brazen robberies where they used 'Jaws of Life' and similar tools to peel open ATM machines inside stores and outside banks. Even though the defendants destroyed surveillance footage and took other steps to cover their tracks, our prosecutors and law enforcement officers worked tirelessly to identify the members of this crew who terrorized our region. With all the defendants now arrested, we can work equally hard to hold them accountable for their crimes."
According to the indictment and other court documents, the defendants would target commercial businesses with ATM machines, enter the business wearing masks and gloves, and would utilize tools common to fire/rescue, such as "Jaws for Life," to pry open or cut open the doors of the store and the ATMS. The suspects would sometimes carry firearms, utilize stolen vehicles, communicate through handheld radios, and destroy surveillance.
Between August 2023 and June 2024, the indictment charges the defendants with robbing or attempting to rob at least 75 ATM machines, laundering at least some of the proceeds at casinos, and related offenses.
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