Two Venezuelan nationals charged in conspiracy that included robberies and attempted robberies in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island

BOSTON – Two Venezuelan nationals, alleged to be members of the violent transitional criminal organization Tren De Aragua, have been charged in connection with an ATM jackpotting conspiracy that included robberies and attempted robberies in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island. ATM jackpotting schemes typically involve a crew of individuals who travel to targeted ATMs and install malware directly to the ATM’s software programming to force the ATM to dispense all its cash.

According to a release from the Massachusetts Department of Justice, Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrz and Lestter Guerrero, both 29, have been charged with conspiracy to commit bank theft. They will make their appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date. Both defendants are in the United States unlawfully.

According to court documents there has been an ongoing federal investigation into a nationwide conspiracy, believed to be coordinated and committed by members of Tren de Aragua (“TdA”), to steal money from ATMs using malware — a scheme referred to as ATM jackpotting. TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated in Venezuela in the mid-2000s which has expanded throughout the Western Hemisphere with an established presence in the United States. According to court filings, TdA’s criminal activities include human smuggling, extortion, drug trafficking, kidnapping and robbery. TdA has developed revenue sources through a range of criminal activities, including ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars from financial institutions. Jackpotting proceeds are typically distributed amongst TdA members and associates to conceal its derivation. TdA members often are instructed to split the proceeds from a jackpot operation with 50% earmarked and sent to TdA leadership in Venezuela and 50% divided among subjects conducting ground operations.

According to charging documents, on Feb. 5, 2026, Martinez Gutierrez and Guerrero were arrested in Augusta, Maine following an attempted ATM jackpotting robbery. Martinez Gutierrez is allegedly connected to at least five additional ATM jackpotting robberies across New England, including robberies on Dec. 31, 2025, in Norwich, Conn; Jan. 20, 2026, in Braintree, Mass; and Jan. 30, 2026, in Rochester, N.H.; and attempted robberies on Jan. 14, 2026, in Coventry, R.I.; and on Jan. 19, 2026, in Stoneham, Mass. Guerrero is allegedly connected to at least one additional jackpotting robbery, with Martinez Gutierrez, on Jan. 30, 2026, in Rochester, N.H.

The charge of conspiring to commit bank theft provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven Division; the Massachusetts State Police; the Braintree, Stoneham, Boston, Dedham, Malden, Somerville, Augusta (Maine), Rochester (N.H.), Coventry (R.I.) and Norwich (Conn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Peter K. Levitt, Chief of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit, are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.