Two Venezuelan nationals, Luz Granados and Johan Gonzalez-Jimenez, were convicted in a federal court in South Carolina for operating an ATM “jackpotting” scheme that affected banks across the Southeast. They targeted older ATMs after hours by removing casings, installing malware via laptops, and forcing machines to dispense all cash directly from bank funds, not customer accounts. The scheme hit locations in Rock Hill, Columbia, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia, with case details aiding a larger probe indicting 54 others in Nebraska.
Sentences Imposed
Granados, 34, received time served and awaits deportation while ordered to pay $126,340 in restitution. Gonzalez-Jimenez, 40, got 18 months in prison followed by deportation, plus $285,100 restitution. U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis handed down the sentences.
Investigation Details
The U.S. Secret Service and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division led the probe. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the conspiracy and computer crime charges. This reflects rising jackpotting incidents tied to organized groups, often involving undocumented individuals.
