87 charged in US for suspected ATM fraud linked to Venezuelan group Tren de Aragua

By Fatma Zehra Solmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) — At least 87 people with suspected ties to the Venezuelan group Tren de Aragua (TdA) are facing charges over a nationwide ATM fraud operation that allegedly siphoned millions of dollars through so-called "ATM jackpotting."

The US Attorney's Office for the District of Nebraska said on Monday that 31 additional suspects have been charged, adding to the 56 defendants already indicted as part of a major Homeland Security Task Force operation, Fox News reported.

The criminal network—made up of largely Venezuelan and Colombian nationals and TdA members—channeled the stolen money into terrorist activities, including human trafficking, child sex trafficking, murder, kidnapping, and "other unspeakably evil and violent acts," said US Attorney Lesley A. Woods.

The Justice Department said the suspects allegedly breached ATMs and triggered them to release cash using a malware strain known as Ploutus, which was engineered to erase traces of itself to help hide the illicit activity.

Officials said the suspects first went to banks and credit unions to check ATMs and look for outside security measures. They then opened the machines and waited to see if an alarm sounded or police responded. If nothing happened, the groups installed the malware by taking out the hard drive and loading the software directly, swapping it with a hard drive already loaded with Ploutus, or plugging in an external device, such as a USB drive, to run the malware.

The investigation is nationwide and includes assistance from eight FBI field offices.

According to local media, Eugene Kowel, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Omaha Field Office, said a team of FBI agents and analysts is working closely with local, state, and federal partners to break up and dismantle an international criminal network that ultimately finances a foreign terrorist organization.

If convicted, the defendants could face prison sentences ranging from several decades to multiple lifetimes.