A high-tech scheme reportedly earned two Venezuelan nationals over $81,000 by hacking ATM machines across Missouri, according to the FBI in St. Louis, Missouri.
The FBI shared the details of the case on their official Facebook page, while the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri released further information in a press statement.
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Berny Alberson Meza-Rojas, 22, and Anthony Brijan Sorondo, 31, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit bank larceny. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The thefts allegedly occurred at:
- ATMs in Bloomsdale and Herculaneum – approximately $11,000 stolen
- ATMs in O’Fallon, Festus, Ste. Genevieve, and Cape Girardeau – more than $70,000 stolen
According to investigators, the suspects hacked the machines to dispense large sums of money. Authorities are requesting that the suspects remain in custody until trial, citing their illegal entry into the U.S.
If convicted, each faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The arrests stem from a collaborative investigation involving the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and local law enforcement agencies from O’Fallon, Cape Girardeau, Festus, St. Charles County, and Ste. Genevieve, including the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Office.
