US DoJ Charges 54 Linked to ATM Jackpotting Scheme Using Ploutus Malware, Tied to Tren de Aragua

The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has revealed the indictment of 54 people for their alleged roles in a sophisticated, multi-million-dollar ATM jackpotting operation that targeted machines across the United States.

According to authorities, the operation involved the use of Ploutus malware to compromise automated teller machines and force them to dispense cash illegally. Investigators say the accused individuals are connected to Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan criminal group that the U.S. State Department has classified as a foreign terrorist organization.

The DoJ noted that in July 2025, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on TdA’s leader, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as “Niño Guerrero,” along with five senior members. They were sanctioned for alleged involvement in crimes including “illicit drug trade, human smuggling and trafficking, extortion, sexual exploitation of women and children, and money laundering, among other criminal activities.”

An indictment returned on December 9, 2025, charged 22 individuals with offenses such as bank fraud, burglary, and money laundering. Prosecutors allege that TdA used ATM jackpotting attacks to steal millions of dollars in the U.S. and distribute the proceeds among its network.

In a separate

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