Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
Two Venezuelan nationals, Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrez and Lestter Guerrero, have been charged with conspiracy to commit bank theft in connection with a series of ATM jackpotting incidents across several New England states. The two men are alleged members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a criminal organization that originated in Venezuela and has expanded its operations throughout the Western Hemisphere, including the United States.
ATM jackpotting is a method where individuals install malware onto ATMs to force them to dispense all available cash. According to court documents, Martinez Gutierrez and Guerrero were arrested on February 5, 2026, in Augusta, Maine after an attempted ATM jackpotting robbery. Authorities allege that Martinez Gutierrez is connected to at least five other similar robberies or attempts across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island between December 2025 and January 2026. Guerrero is also allegedly involved in one additional incident alongside Martinez Gutierrez.
Court filings indicate that TdA’s criminal activities extend beyond ATM thefts to include human smuggling, extortion, drug trafficking, kidnapping, and robbery. Proceeds from these crimes are reportedly split among group members and leaders; half is sent back to TdA leadership in Venezuela while the remainder is divided among those conducting operations on the ground.
Both defendants are currently in the United States unlawfully. If convicted of conspiring to commit bank theft, they face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: "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." Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division joined Foley in announcing the charges.
The investigation received assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies including various police departments across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut as well as FBI divisions from Boston and New Haven. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown along with Peter K. Levitt will prosecute the case.
