A man in the United States received what prosecutors say is the longest federal sentence yet for ATM jackpotting, a scheme that makes cash machines spit out money on command. The Justice Department said Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera was sentenced to 96 months after pleading guilty to bank fraud, bank burglary, and cyber-enabled fraud, and was held responsible for more than $3.5 million in losses. Prosecutors say jackpotting attacks involved opening ATMs, connecting a laptop, and installing malware to force cash dispensing; Nebraska has charged 119 people in related cases, and authorities link many suspects to Tren de Aragua.
Why it matters: This is a sizable law-enforcement development in an ongoing attack pattern that has cost banks tens of millions of dollars and relies on malware deployed directly to ATMs. Banks, ATM operators, and field service teams should review physical and software protections on machines, while the public should expect continued disruptions or cash shortages at affected ATMs.
Eduard Kovacs
2026.08.24
100% relevant
This article establishes a distinct tracked story because it centers on a specific record-setting federal sentence in a malware-enabled ATM jackpotting prosecution, rather than updating an existing listed story.
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