ENTERPRISE, MS – Two alleged associates of the notorious Venezuelan organized crime syndicate, Tren de Araqua, have admitted to robbing a bank ATM in Enterprise, Mississippi. Jesus Rene Cabrera Tobias, 25, and Darwin Javier Delgado, 46, both citizens of Venezuela, pleaded guilty to bank theft, federal prosecutors announced today. The pair systematically compromised the ATM, walking away with $21,500 in cash.
The brazen theft occurred on August 8, 2024. According to court documents, Tobias and Delgado didn’t rely on brute force. They hacked the ATM’s operating system, disabling its security features with a cleverly installed device. Surveillance footage, painstakingly reviewed by the FBI, shows Tobias unlocking the ATM and accessing its internal system. He then installed a small electronic device, manipulating the machine until it began spewing out cash. The cash was then collected and passed to an accomplice in the vehicle.
Investigators quickly zeroed in on the suspect vehicle, identified through the surveillance footage. The vehicle was registered to Darwin Javier Delgado. Further review of surveillance from a nearby store confirmed both Tobias and Delgado were inside, solidifying the connection. The next day, Texas Department of Public Safety officers pulled the vehicle over. Inside were Delgado and Cabrera, along with clothing matching what they wore during the ATM heist, and two cell phones.
A forensic examination of those cell phones proved damning. Investigators uncovered photographs and videos documenting the Enterprise ATM theft, as well as evidence of the pair manipulating other ATMs and withdrawing cash. Metadata from the images and videos placed them squarely at the scene of the crime. A forensic analysis of the ATM’s hard drive confirmed it had been compromised by malware specifically designed to disable security features. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment crime; it was a calculated, technologically-driven operation.
The investigation revealed a disturbing connection: Tobias and Delgado weren’t acting alone. They were operating in coordination with other members of Tren de Araqua, a transnational criminal organization originating in Venezuela. “Today’s announcement sends a clear message: Tren de Aragua transnational criminal operations will not be tolerated,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff. “Tobias and Delgado brazenly tampered with ATM machines defrauding banks and the American people.”
Both Tobias and Delgado face a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment, followed by potential deportation. Tobias is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10, 2025, and Delgado on October 7, 2025. The final sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors. The FBI led the investigation, with crucial assistance from local law enforcement agencies including the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, Meridian Police Department, Decatur Police Department, Enterprise Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Goff and Brett Grantham.
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Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Cybercrime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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