Two Venezuelan nationals have been federally charged in connection with an alleged ATM “jackpotting” conspiracy that targeted machines across several New England states, according to federal authorities.
Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrez and Lestter Guerrero, both 29, are charged with conspiracy to commit bank theft following an investigation into a series of ATM robberies and attempted robberies in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Federal prosecutors allege the men are members of Tren de Aragua, a violent transnational criminal organization that originated in Venezuela in the mid-2000s and has expanded throughout the Western Hemisphere, including into the United States. Authorities say the organization has been linked to crimes such as human smuggling, extortion, drug trafficking, kidnapping, and robbery.
According to court documents, the case is part of an ongoing federal investigation into a nationwide ATM jackpotting conspiracy believed to involve members of the group. Jackpotting schemes involve installing malware on ATMs to override security controls and force machines to dispense large amounts of cash.
Investigators say Martinez Gutierrez and Guerrero were arrested Feb. 5, 2026, in Augusta, Maine, following an attempted ATM jackpotting robbery.
Prosecutors allege Martinez Gutierrez is connected to at least five additional jackpotting incidents across New England, including robberies in Norwich, Connecticut; Braintree, Massachusetts; and Rochester, New Hampshire, as well as attempted robberies in Coventry, Rhode Island, and Stoneham, Massachusetts. Guerrero is alleged to have participated in at least one additional robbery with Martinez Gutierrez in Rochester, New Hampshire.
Federal officials said both defendants are currently in the United States unlawfully and are scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
The charge of conspiracy to commit bank theft carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence would be determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. The investigation included assistance from the Massachusetts State Police and multiple local police departments across New England.
Authorities emphasized that the allegations outlined in charging documents are accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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