Two men, Carlos Eduardo Sabino-Parra and Alfredo Jose Maita-Acienso, have been booked into the Greene County Jail for allegedly using computer malware to override an ATM in Branson, Missouri, and steal $21,000 on February 27.
Jackpotting Scheme
The process of jackpotting involves three stages. The first stage involves the installation of hardware, where members of the conspiracy gain physical access to the ATM, remove the data storage device, install malicious code, and then reinsert the device. The second stage occurs when the malware is activated remotely, bypassing the ATM’s security systems. The third stage involves sending a ‘dispense’ command to the ATM, causing it to dispense cash until it runs out or the process is disrupted.
The FBI has observed an increase in ATM jackpotting incidents across the United States, with over 1,900 incidents reported since 2020, resulting in losses of over $20 million. The FBI has also identified a link between jackpotting and a Venezuelan gang, with 54 people indicted in 2025 for their alleged involvement in a jackpotting conspiracy.
Sabino-Parra and Maita-Acienso face felony charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank burglary and damage to a protected computer. They are also accused of trying to jackpot an ATM in Lincoln, Nebraska, on February 5.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
