Two Venezuelan Members of Tren de Aragua Arrested in Multi-State ATM Theft Scheme
Two Venezuelan nationals have been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged ATM theft scheme spanning multiple states. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that David Jose Gomez Cegarra, 24, and Jesus Segundo Hernandez-Gil, 19, were charged by criminal complaint with bank theft and conspiracy to commit bank theft, both of which carry a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.
Prosecutors allege the two men are linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, a group designated by the White House as a Global Terrorist Organization. The suspects are accused of engaging in “ATM jackpotting,” a method of theft that involves tampering with an ATM’s hard drive—either by installing malware or replacing it with an infected drive—allowing them to manipulate the machine to dispense cash unlawfully.
According to investigators, the suspects and other unidentified co-conspirators carried out an ATM jackpotting operation at Radius Federal Credit Union in Kenmore, N.Y., on October 5, 2024. Surveillance footage reportedly captured a vehicle driven by Gomez-Cegarra approaching the ATM at around 4:05 p.m. A passenger exited the vehicle, accessed the ATM using a key, appeared to install an unidentified device, and then re-entered the vehicle before it drove away. Authorities say the vehicle returned several times over the following hours, making unauthorized withdrawals totaling approximately $110,440.
Authorities believe the group is also responsible for similar incidents at St. Mary’s Federal Credit Union in Framingham, Massachusetts, on October 6, 2024; First National Bank of Dryden in Dryden, N.Y., on October 17, 2024; and two Community First Bank locations in Mount Vernon, Illinois, on November 11, 2024. The total amount stolen across these incidents is estimated at $187,000.
The suspects were detained on November 11, 2024, after police in Mahomet, Illinois, stopped their vehicle for suspicious activity. Both individuals presented Venezuelan identification. Following their initial arrest by Mahomet Police, they were subsequently charged by the Mount Vernon Police Department in connection with the Community First Bank incidents.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kenmore Police Department, the Homer Police Department in New York, the Framingham Police Department in Massachusetts, and the Mahomet Police Department in Illinois.
Authorities emphasize that the charges filed against the suspects are allegations, and both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.