Five Venezuelan citizens have admitted to attempting to steal cash from ATMs in Kansas using malware. The FBI warns of a nationwide surge in 'jackpotting' schemes causing millions in losses.
- Five Venezuelan nationals pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank larceny.
- The group attempted to physically install malware to force ATMs to dispense cash.
- Over 1,900 jackpotting incidents have been recorded in the US since 2020.
In a significant blow to international cyber-criminal networks, five Venezuelan nationals—Luis Alberto Velasquez-Artigas, Royder Adrian Figuera-Perez, Javier Mejia, Jr, Gabriel Alexjandro Corales-Garcia, and Italo Lizandro Corrales-Carrillo—have pleaded guilty in a US court for their role in an ATM jackpotting operation.
Court documents reveal that in December 2025, the group traveled from Indiana to Wamego and Manhattan, Kansas. Their objective was to physically breach ATM machines to install specialized malware. Once installed, the malware would be activated remotely, commanding the machine to dispense its entire cash reserve—a process known in the industry as 'jackpotting'.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that the shift toward physical-digital hybrid attacks represents a critical evolution in financial crime. By combining physical trespassing with remote malware activation, criminals are bypassing traditional network-based security. This trend suggests that the 'air-gap' between physical hardware and remote commands is becoming increasingly porous.
The rise of jackpotting highlights a systemic vulnerability where physical access to hardware becomes the ultimate master key for cyber-criminals.
Despite their planning, the defendants were unsuccessful in their attempts and were captured by high-resolution surveillance cameras. The US Department of Justice confirmed that Velasquez-Artigas has already been sentenced to nine months in prison, while the remaining four await their final sentencing.
FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Chris Ormerod emphasized that this is not an isolated incident but part of a growing national trend. According to FBI data, the US has seen over 1,900 such incidents since 2020, with a staggering 700 cases occurring in 2025 alone, resulting in losses exceeding $20 million.
The severity of these crimes is further illustrated by the recent sentencing of Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera, another Venezuelan national, who received 96 months in prison for a similar scheme, signaling a zero-tolerance policy toward financial infrastructure attacks.
| Metric | 2020 - 2024 (Approx) | Year 2025 (Specific) |
|---|---|---|
| Incident Count | ~1,200 | 700+ |
| Financial Loss | Moderate | $20M+ |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What exactly is ATM Jackpotting?
It is a fraudulent technique where malware is installed on an ATM's internal computer to force the machine to dispense all its cash without a valid transaction.
2. How do banks prevent these attacks?
Banks use a combination of physical locks, encrypted hard drives, and real-time monitoring systems to detect unauthorized hardware access.
