A Miami man is facing serious charges for his alleged role in a massive multi-state ATM heist scheme that netted over $2.6 million in stolen cash.
Carlos Luis Vera La Cruz, 44, of Miami, was arrested and charged with conspiracy, bank larceny, and accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
The indictment, unsealed on April 18, 2024, alleges that Vera La Cruz and his co-conspirators used a technique known as “jackpotting” to steal money from ATMs at targeted banks and credit unions around the country. The scheme involved infecting the ATMs with malware, which forced them to dispense cash without a valid transaction.
The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, uncovered a series of ATM robberies across multiple states, including California. In June 2023, Vera La Cruz targeted seven ATMs belonging to a bank in and around Redding and Chico, California, stealing $291,820. The total amount stolen from banks and credit unions across the country exceeded $2,615,766.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong is prosecuting the case, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for bank larceny. Vera La Cruz also faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy and each count of accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud.
Vera La Cruz is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of cyber-enabled financial crimes and the importance of vigilance in protecting our nation’s financial systems.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime|Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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