A multi-million dollar ATM jackpotting scheme has resulted in the indictment of 54 individuals. Ploutus malware was used in the massive conspiracy to breach automated teller machines (ATMs) all over the United States. The State Department has classified the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) as a foreign terrorist organization, and the indicted members are allegedly members of this group.
The defendants could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 to 335 years in prison if found guilty. the defendants employed methodical surveillance and burglary techniques to install malware into ATM machines, and then steal and launder money from the machines, in part to fund terrorism and the other far-reaching criminal activities of TDA, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Criminal Division of the Justice Department.
Since 2021, 1,529 jackpotting incidents have been reported in the United States. As of August 2025, the global criminal network had lost about $40.73 million. "Many millions of dollars were drained from ATM machines across the United States as a result of this conspiracy," the lawyer claims.
The lawyer continues, "The money is alleged to have gone to Tren de Aragua leaders to fund their terrorist activities and purposes." According to her, "a money mule must have a master key to open the top portion of the ATM (or be able to pick it),"To dispense money from the ATM, an activation code (provided by the boss in charge of the operation) is necessary, according to to the organization, which is also necessary for money mules to retrieve cash from ATMs and make bank withdrawals.