A federal grand jury has indicted two Venezuelan nationals, Joel Alejandro Morantes Leal, 25, from San Cristobal, Venezuela, and Endis Daniel Gonzalez Ortega, 22, also from Venezuela. They are charged with conspiring to steal cash from ATMs in Merced and Tulare Counties and six other western states. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced the indictment.
Morantes faces additional charges of bank robbery, accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud, and attempting to access a protected computer in furtherance of fraud.
Court documents reveal that between April 1 and May 29, 2025, Morantes and Gonzalez engaged in an ATM “jackpotting” conspiracy. They allegedly infected ATMs with malware to dispense money without valid transactions across several states including California, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Nebraska, Utah, and Washington. The scheme targeted over 30 ATMs and reportedly netted hundreds of thousands of dollars. One incident at a credit union in Merced County resulted in approximately $94,800 being stolen.
The investigation is conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey A. Spivak and Arelis M. Clemente are prosecuting the case.
If convicted on conspiracy charges, Morantes and Gonzalez could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine each. For bank robbery charges against Morantes specifically, he could face up to ten years in prison along with a similar fine for each count related to computer access violations. Sentences will be determined based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines once guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt.
