Venezuelan nationals convicted in ATM jackpotting scheme to be deported
Image: Department of Justice (D.O.J.)
Image: Department of Justice (D.O.J.)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– SCDOJ officials say two men who were convicted of conspiracy and computer crimes in an ATM Jackpotting scheme are being deported.
Officials say Luz Granados, 34, and Johan Gonzalez-Jimenez, 40, were in the country illegally.
Evidence found during the investigation revealed that Jimenez and Granados targeted older model Automated Teller Machines (ATM) throughout the southeastern United States to steal money after business hours.
They are accused of approaching an ATM at nighttime and removing the outer casing of the machine and then connecting a laptop computer to install malware which overcame the ATM’s security protocols.
Once installed, the ATMs dispersed cash to the perpetrators until the ATM’s funds are exhausted.
The dispersed funds were not tethered to any specific customer accounts but rather taken from the bank that owned the ATM, according to the DOJ.
Targets included banks in Rock Hill and Columbia, as well as Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.
A judge sentenced Granados to time served and she remains in custody awaiting deportation.
She was also ordered to pay $126,340 in restitution.
While Gonzalez-Jimenez was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $285,100 in restitution.
He will be deported once his sentence is complete.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
