ATM Jackpotting

⏱ 2 min read

Carlos Luis Vera La Cruz, a 45-year-old Miami man, pleaded guilty on March 20, 2026, to conspiracy, bank larceny, and accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud. Vera La Cruz and his co-conspirators engaged in an ATM ‘jackpotting’ scheme, where they stole money from ATMs at targeted banks and credit unions across the country by infecting them with malware.

The scheme, which spanned multiple states, netted Vera La Cruz and his accomplices over $2.6 million. In one spree in June 2023, Vera La Cruz targeted seven ATMs in the Redding and Chico area, making off with more than $291,000.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Vera La Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced on August 28, 2026, and faces up to 10 years in prison for bank larceny and five years for conspiracy and accessing a protected computer.

Vera La Cruz’s guilty plea marks a significant blow to the ATM jackpotting scheme, which has been wreaking havoc on banks and credit unions nationwide. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong and will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins.