Four Venezuelan nationals have been charged with federal offenses for allegedly stealing over $500,000 in an ATM “jackpotting” scheme across Connecticut in August 2025. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced the charges against Euclides Moreno Itanare, 28, Willian Ricardo Flores, 49, Alberto Jose Freites Arvilla, 41, and Luis Jose Freites Arvilla, 38, on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Court documents allege the group conspired to use specialized hardware and malware to force ATMs to dispense cash. The thefts occurred at locations including Milford, Ansonia, and I-95 rest stops in Fairfield, Branford, Madison, and Darien. Surveillance video reportedly shows Luis Freites Arvilla acting as a lookout while Alberto Freites Arvilla accessed ATM internal components. Luis Freites Arvilla, Itanare, and Flores then took turns withdrawing cash, sometimes changing clothes to avoid detection.
The defendants are accused of stealing $529,220 from eight ATMs between August 8 and August 18, 2025. An attempt to steal from an ATM in Ansonia was thwarted by a software patch. They were arrested on June 25, 2026, and charged with interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, and conspiracy, with a maximum of five years. All four are currently detained.
U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan emphasized that a criminal complaint contains only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Connecticut State Police and police departments in Raleigh, N.C., and New York City. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, a multi-agency effort targeting criminal organizations.