Venezuelan citizen sentenced to eight years for $3.5 million ATM theft

Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera, a 27-year-old Venezuelan citizen, has been sentenced to eight years in prison in the United States for his role in a conspiracy to steal more than $3.5 million through ATM jackpotting.

The FBI reported that the scheme involved using malicious software to manipulate ATMs into dispensing unauthorized cash. This sentence is noted as the longest federal prison term imposed to date on an individual for participating in an ATM jackpotting operation.

Gouveia-Aguilera is the third person convicted in the District of Nebraska related to this conspiracy. Authorities stated that the investigation is ongoing and suggests the jackpotting network may be linked to Tren de Aragua, an organization designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization. To date, 119 people have been charged in the District of Nebraska in connection with this scheme.