SACRAMENTO, Calif.–A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against two Venezuelan men who have been charged in what is known as a “jackpotting” scheme that targeted ATMs in the western U.S., including at credit unions, where one machine was hit for nearly $100,000.
The Defendants
According to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California, Joel Alejandro Morantes Leal, 25, of San Cristobal, Venezuela, and Endis Daniel Gonzalez Ortega, 22, of Venezuela, have been charged in a conspiracy to steal cash from ATMs in the Merced and Tulare counties in California as well as in six other western states.
Morantes was additionally charged with one count of bank robbery, one count of accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud, and three counts of attempting to access a protected computer in furtherance of fraud.
Infected With Malware
According to court documents, between April 1, 2025, and May 29, 2025, Morantes and Gonzalez engaged in an ATM “jackpotting” conspiracy where they stole money from ATMs at targeted banks and credit unions around the western United States by infecting the ATMs with malware and causing them to dispense money without a valid transaction. They worked with others and targeted ATMs in California, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Nebraska, Utah, and Washington.
“The defendants and their co-conspirators jackpotted or attempted to jackpot more than 30 ATMs and received hundreds of thousands of dollars in U.S. currency,” the U.S Attorney said. “In one incident alone, in April 2025 at a credit union in Merced County, they stole approximately $94,800 in cash. The investigation is ongoing.”
Potential Sentences
The U.S. Attorney said that if convicted of conspiracy, Morantes and Gonzalez face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of bank robbery, Morantes faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of accessing or attempting to access a protected computer in furtherance of fraud, Morantes faces and a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
