Tren de Aragua members charged in New England ATM jackpotting conspiracy

Two alleged members of the Venezuela-linked Tren De Aragua (TdA) gang have been charged in an ATM bonus conspiracy that included robberies and attempted robberies across New England, according to federal prosecutors.

Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrz and Lestter Guerrero, both 29, are charged with conspiracy to commit bank robbery, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said in a press release.

Both men were in the United States illegally, authorities said.

The duo is accused of robbing and attempting robberies at ATMs in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island. They allegedly installed malware directly into the ATM’s software program to force the machine to give out all the money.

Prosecutors said a federal investigation is ongoing into a nationwide conspiracy allegedly coordinated and committed by TdA members to steal money from ATMs using malware; This conspiracy is called ATM bonus.

According to charging documents, Martinez Gutierrez and Guerrero were arrested in Augusta, Maine, on Feb. 5 following an attempted jackpot robbery at an ATM.

Martinez Gutierrez is allegedly linked to at least five ATM jackpot robberies across New England, including the Dec. 31 robberies in Norwich, Connecticut; January 20 in Braintree, Massachusetts; January 30 in Rochester, New Hampshire; and attempted robbery on January 14 in Coventry, Rhode Island, and on January 19 in Stoneham, Massachusetts.

Lestter Guerrero is seen pointing his cell phone at an ATM with Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrz in the passenger seat. (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts)

Guerrero is allegedly linked to at least one jackpot robbery with Martinez Gutierrez on January 30 in Rochester, New Hampshire.

If convicted of bank robbery, the couple could face up to five years in prison, up to three years of probation and a fine of up to $250,000.

Prosecutors said in court documents that TdA allegedly obtained sources of revenue through a range of criminal activities, including ATM jackpotting, to steal millions of dollars from financial institutions.

ALLEGEDLY THE LEADER OF TRAIN DE ARAGUA WAS ACCUSED OF BLACKMAIL CONSPIRACY AND COCAINE TRAFFICKING IN THE TRUMP CONFLICT

Two men were arrested Feb. 5 in Augusta, Me., following an attempted jackpot robbery at an ATM. (Photo: Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

According to court documents, proceeds from jackpots are often distributed among members and associates of the gang to conceal the fact that it was obtained.

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Members are often told that 50 percent of the proceeds from the jackpot operation will be allocated to gang leaders in Venezuela, and 50 percent will be divided among those running the black operations.

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