{"id":2620686,"date":"2026-06-29T02:49:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T06:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/venezuelan-illegal-immigrants-linked-to-tren-de-aragua-sent-to-prison-for-atm-hacking-scheme\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T02:51:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T06:51:12","slug":"venezuelan-illegal-immigrants-linked-to-tren-de-aragua-sent-to-prison-for-atm-hacking-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/venezuelan-illegal-immigrants-linked-to-tren-de-aragua-sent-to-prison-for-atm-hacking-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"Venezuelan illegal immigrants linked to Tren de Aragua sent to prison for ATM hacking scheme\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvenezuelan-illegal-immigrants-linked-to-tren-de-aragua-sent-to-prison-for-atm-hacking-scheme%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2620686&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Two illegal immigrants,Carlos Javier Padron and Oddry Arnoldo Cabrera Torrealba,were sentenced to over six years in federal prison for their role in a hacking conspiracy known as \u201cjackpotting,\u201d which involved stealing millions of dollars from ATMs across the United States. They used malware to rig ATMs, causing them to dispense large sums of cash, and were connected to the Venezuelan transnational terrorist and organized crime group Tren de Aragua (TdA). TdA has expanded its criminal activities throughout the Western Hemisphere, including drug trafficking, extortion, and financial crimes like ATM jackpotting, which serves as a major revenue source for their operations.<\/p>\n<p>During the examination, it was revealed that Padron and Torrealba broke into ATMs, removed hard drives, and installed malware called Plotus that enabled unauthorized cash withdrawals while deleting evidence. Their actions contributed to a broader network, with 96 additional individuals indicted for similar crimes involving terrorism, money laundering, and other financial offenses. The authorities described their deployment of sophisticated malware as part of Operation riptide, a campaign targeting cybercrime infrastructure.Both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alt-right-martial-artists-challenge-anti-riot-law-on-first-amendment-grounds\/\" title=\"Alt-Right Martial Artists Challenge Anti-Riot Law on First Amendment Grounds\">men pleaded guilty<\/a> to conspiracy and computer fraud,received long prison sentences,and were ordered to pay over $1.5 million in restitution. U.S. officials emphasized that ATM jackpotting is vital to TdA\u2019s funding, supporting their activities ranging from human trafficking to violent crimes, and efforts continue to dismantle their financial networks.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two illegal immigrants were sentenced to over six years in federal prison for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tri-cityherald.com\/news\/local\/crime\/article316286966.html\">stealing<\/a> millions of dollars from ATMs in a hacking conspiracy known as \u201cjackpotting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Department of Justice said that Carlos Javier Padron and Oddry Arnoldo Cabrera Torrealba were sentenced to 78 months in prison for their scheme. The two Venezuelan nationals rigged ATMs and used malware to cause machines throughout the country to dispense large amounts of money, court documents <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/two-illegal-aliens-sentenced-international-atm-jackpotting-conspiracy-ties-tren-de-aragua\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">revealed<\/a>. The DOJ said Padron and Torrealba were <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/two-illegal-aliens-sentenced-international-atm-jackpotting-conspiracy-ties-tren-de-aragua\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">connected<\/a> to Tren de Aragua, the transnational terrorist cartel and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-dozens-of-nations-execute-most-sophisticated-crime-sting-ever-800-arrested-100-saved\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Dozens Of Nations Execute \u2018Most Sophisticated\u2019 Crime Sting Ever, 800+ Arrested, 100+ Saved\">organized crime syndicate<\/a> that originated in Venezuela. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4627304\/bill-barr-urges-senate-gop-confirm-todd-blanche-for-attorney-general\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Bill Barr calls on Senate GOP to confirm Todd Blanche for attorney general<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4626940\/trump-commission-unveils-blueprint-expand-religious-liberty-protections\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump commission unveils 12-point blueprint to expand US religious liberty protections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4626765\/chicago-man-arrest-ufc-attack-white-house\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Chicago man arrested in connection with thwarted UFC attack at White House<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Two Illegal Aliens Sentenced in International ATM \u201cJackpotting\u201d Conspiracy with Ties to Tren de Aragua<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCarlos Javier Padron and Oddry Arnoldo Cabrera Torrealba helped deploy sophisticated malware as part of a transnational criminal network that hacked ATMs across the United\u2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/r3fSOuuTNM\">pic.twitter.com\/r3fSOuuTNM<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\u2014 Criminal Division (@DOJCrimDiv) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DOJCrimDiv\/status\/2070514336594854328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 26, 2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States,\u201d read a Justice Department release. \u201cTdA\u2019s criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash,\u201d noted the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tri-cityherald.com\/news\/local\/crime\/article316286966.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">investigation<\/a>, it was discovered that Padron and Torrealba were part of a vast \u201csophisticated criminal network\u201d of conspirators working to hack ATMs and steal money from the machines. Since their arrests, an additional 96 people were indicted on charges for roles in the ATM jackpotting conspiracy for a variety of charges, including \u201cmaterial support to a designated foreign terror organization\u201d and a slew of other financial, money laundering, and banking crimes. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCarlos Javier Padron and Oddry Arnoldo Cabrera Torrealba helped deploy sophisticated malware as part of a transnational criminal network that hacked ATMs across the United States and stole millions of dollars through a technique known as ATM jackpotting \u2013 which caused bank ATMs to dispense the cash inside of them,\u201d said A. Tysen Duva, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-antrim-co-forensic-report-bombshell-reveals-dominion-machines-were-set-at-68-05-error-ratemeaning-68-05-of-ballots-could-be-sent-out-for-mass-adjudication-giving-individuals-or-ma\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Antrim Co. Forensic Report BOMBSHELL Reveals Dominion Machines Were Set At 68.05% Error Rate\u2026Meaning 68.05% Of Ballots Could Be Sent Out For Mass Adjudication, Giving Individuals Or Machines Ability To Change 68.05% Of Votes\">assistant attorney general<\/a> of the Justice Department\u2019s Criminal Division. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/two-illegal-aliens-sentenced-international-atm-jackpotting-conspiracy-ties-tren-de-aragua\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reportedly<\/a> broke into ATMs, removed the hard drives, and installed malware known as Plotus to facilitate the \u201cunauthorized withdrawal\u201d of money. Padron and Torrealba deployed Plotus in person and co-conspirators used computer access to initiate commands to the ATMs to dispense cash, said the Justice Department. The sophisticated software would also \u201cdelete evidence of its existence to prevent financial institutions from detecting its use on ATMs.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis action is part of Operation Riptide, an ongoing FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cybercrime, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-chinese-foreign-exchange-student-disappeared-he-was-just-found-in-a-cyber-kidnapping\/\" title=\"Chinese exchange student found after being cyber kidnapped\">cyber-enabled crime<\/a>, and fraud against the American people,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FBICyberDiv\/status\/2070613165503648228\">read<\/a> a social media post by the FBI Cyber Division.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Padron and Torrealba pleaded guilty to \u201cone count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary and one count of computer fraud and intentional damage to a protected computer.\u201d In addition to the jail time, they were ordered to pay $1,537,696 in restitution, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/two-illegal-aliens-sentenced-international-atm-jackpotting-conspiracy-ties-tren-de-aragua\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cATM jackpotting is TdA\u2019s business plan and their assessed primary source of revenue to fund their terrorist activities that range from reprehensible forms of human trafficking to armed robbery, murder, and the general undermining of America\u2019s national security by flooding our communities with controlled substances,\u201d said Lesley Woods, U.S. Attorney\u00a0for the District of Nebraska. \u201cWe will use these prosecutions to put a chokehold on their funding pipeline.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Illegals get 78 months for ATM jackpotting scheme<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2677,"featured_media":2620687,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26174422113279.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[81870,39668,54453],"class_list":["post-2620686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-atm-hacking","tag-tren-de-aragua","tag-venezuelan-immigrants"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26174422113279.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2620686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2677"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2620686"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2620686\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2620690,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2620686\/revisions\/2620690"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2620687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2620686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2620686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2620686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}