Charges against the cartel members included murder, robbery, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, and drug trafficking.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday announced multiple indictments against more than 70 members of Tren de Aragua in a nationwide crackdown on the foreign terrorist organization.
The cartel members were charged with various crimes that the DOJ said occurred inside and outside the United States, including murder, robbery, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, and drug trafficking.
Five U.S. Attorney offices in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, and Texas were involved in the indictments.
“The existence of [Tren de Aragua] is a direct threat to our national security, and we will not allow such a dangerous criminal organization to take root in our communities,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement.
Federal prosecutors in Nebraska indicted 54 members of the cartel Thursday for their alleged roles in a large conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs in the United States.
The cybercrime, called “ATM jackpotting,” occurs when thieves use malware to force the bank cash machines to dispense large amounts of cash on command.
“Many millions of dollars were drained from ATM machines across the United States as a result of this conspiracy and that money is alleged to have gone to Tren de Aragua leaders to fund their terroristic activities and purposes,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska Lesley Woods.
Nebraska law enforcement investigators were able to identify the criminal network and follow the money trail back to Venezuela, according to Woods. The defendants’ charges include conspiracy to provide material support for terrorism, money laundering, bank burglary, and computer fraud and abuse.
Prosecutors say Tren de Aragua relied on the recruitment of several people to deploy the ATM malware nationwide. Members would travel in groups using multiple cars to their targeted banks and credit unions. Then, the groups would study the ATMs before conducting operations.
