OMAHA — A federal grand jury in the District of Nebraska returned an indictment Wednesday charging six individuals for their roles in a large conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs in the United States, a crime commonly referred to as ‘ATM jackpotting.’ Eighty-seven others have already been charged, bringing the total to 93 charged defendants.
The most recent indictment alleges five counts including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, bank fraud, bank burglary, and damage to computers. The indictment was returned just weeks after a previous one returned on December 9, 2025, that alleged that Tren de Aragua (TdA), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, conducted jackpotting attacks across America.
The December 9, 2025 indictment charged 22 individuals with offenses for their roles in the conspiracy: 13 individuals are charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, 10 with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 10 with conspiracy to commit bank burglary and fraud and related activity in connection with computers, and 22 with conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also alleges that TdA used jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in the United States and then transferred the proceeds among its members and associates to conceal the illegally obtained cash.
A related indictment returned on Oct. 21, 2025, charged 32 individuals and alleged 56 counts including one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, 18 counts of bank fraud, 18 counts of bank burglary, and 18 counts of damage to computers. An additional indictment returned on January 21, 2026, charged 31 individuals and alleged 32 counts including one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, 10 counts of bank fraud, 10 counts of bank burglary, and 10 counts of damage to computers.
The loss to victim financial institutions was in excess of $100,000 per jackpotting attempt. The overall loss to the victim financial institutions is over $6 million, with at least an additional $1.74 million attempted. If convicted, the defendants face maximum penalties of between 20 and 335 years in prison.
The following individuals were charged in the most recent indictment: Wester Eduardo Dugarte Goicochea, 43, Mauro Angel Briceno Caldera, 37, Henry Rafael Gonzalez-Gutierrez, 37, and Giovanny Miguel Ocanto Yance, 26, all Venezuelan nationals residing in the Houston area. Jelfenson David Bolivar Diaz, 38, and Arlinzon Jose Reyes Villegas, 21, both Venezuelan nationals, were also charged.
TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking, to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other violent acts to advance the organization’s criminal activities.
Related Federal Cases
- Carrie Case, Medical Record Theft, Nebraska 2016 · Iowa
- Aaron Craddock, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Nebraska 2023 · Iowa
- Cody M. Lacefield, Misprision of a Felony, Nebraska 2024 · Nebraska
- Dean L. Baldwin, Receipt of Child Pornography, Nebraska 2015 · Nebraska
- Kent Jay Trembly, Tax Return Filing Fraud, Nebraska 2024 · Nebraska
Key Facts
- State: Nebraska
- Category: Cybercrime|Organized Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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