THE US Justice Department has announced charges against an additional 31 individuals involved in a massive ATM jackpotting scheme, bringing the total targeted in the probe to 87. The defendants, predominantly Venezuelan nationals and including members of the Tren de Aragua crime syndicate, are also joined by Colombian nationals in the latest indictment.
They face charges including conspiracy to commit bank fraud and burglary, as well as substantive counts of computer fraud and intentional damage to protected systems. According to the DoJ, the network used the Ploutus malware to bypass ATM security and issue unauthorized commands to cash-dispensing modules, with deployment involving physical tampering such as swapping a hard drive or infecting an ATM via an external USB device.
After jackpotting, the malware allegedly deleted traces of its own code to deceive forensic investigators and bank staff. The DoJ recently announced that two Venezuelan nationals convicted over their role in the ATM hacking scheme will be deported, and ultimately all individuals charged in the investigation face deportation. 28 January 2026.