Who Is Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera? ATM Jackpotting Case

Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera is a 27-year-old Venezuelan man convicted for participating in a nationwide cybercrime operation that used malicious software to force ATMs to dispense cash, a technique known as “ATM jackpotting.” Federal prosecutors said Gouveia-Aguilera participated in attacks across several states and held him responsible for more than $3.5 million in losses. In August 2026, a federal judge in Nebraska sentenced him to eight years in prison, which prosecutors said is believed to be the longest federal sentence imposed in the United States for an individual’s role in ATM jackpotting.

Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera ATM Jackpotting Scheme

Gouveia-Aguilera Participated In Scheme That Used Malware To Make ATMs Dispense Cash. Federal prosecutors said members of the conspiracy gained access to ATMs and deployed malicious software that caused the machines to dispense money without debiting a legitimate customer account. Criminal crews could then collect the cash directly from the compromised machines. [U.S. Department of Justice]

Federal Court Held Gouveia-Aguilera Responsible For More Than $3.5 Million In Losses. At sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Buescher determined that Gouveia-Aguilera was responsible for losses exceeding $3.5 million arising from the jackpotting operation. [U.S. Department of Justice]

Original Federal Case Accused Gouveia-Aguilera Of Operating In Nebraska, Washington And Oregon. A 2025 indictment alleged that Gouveia-Aguilera and co-defendant Alfredo Pinto-Mendoza participated in jackpotting crimes between approximately March and May 2025 in Lincoln County, Nebraska; Walla Walla County, Washington; and Umatilla County, Oregon. [U.S. Department of Justice]

Washington And Oregon ATM Attacks

Gouveia-Aguilera Linked To Theft Of Nearly $94,000 From Walla Walla ATM. Federal court documents allege Gouveia-Aguilera, Pinto-Mendoza and others conducted a jackpotting attack against a Baker Boyer Bank ATM at 1530 Plaza Way in Walla Walla, Washington, on April 5 and 6, 2025, obtaining approximately $93,480. [Tri-City Herald]

Second Walla Walla ATM Attack Produced Approximately $60,640. The same defendants were accused of targeting another Baker Boyer Bank ATM at 1931 East Isaacs Avenue in Walla Walla during the same period and obtaining approximately $60,640. [Tri-City Herald]

Milton-Freewater ATM Attack Allegedly Produced Nearly $44,000. Court documents also linked Gouveia-Aguilera, Pinto-Mendoza and another defendant to an attack on a Baker Boyer Bank ATM in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, where approximately $43,920 was obtained. [Tri-City Herald]

Nebraska ATM Attack

Gouveia-Aguilera Accused Of Attempting To Steal More Than $37,000 From North Platte ATM. Federal prosecutors alleged that Gouveia-Aguilera and Pinto-Mendoza attempted to jackpot an ATM at the North Platte Union Pacific Employees Community Credit Union in Nebraska on April 27, 2025. Court records put the amount they attempted to obtain at approximately $37,460. [Federal Indictment]

Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera Charges And Guilty Plea

Gouveia-Aguilera Initially Indicted With Alfredo Pinto-Mendoza In May 2025. A federal grand jury indicted the two Venezuelan nationals as part of four indictments charging nine people in jackpotting cases across Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri, Iowa, Oregon and Washington. The original charges included conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer-related offenses. [U.S. Department of Justice]

Gouveia-Aguilera Ultimately Pleaded Guilty To Five Federal Offenses. Prosecutors said Gouveia-Aguilera pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud; conspiracy to commit bank burglary and fraud in connection with computers; bank fraud; bank burglary; and fraud in connection with computers. [U.S. Department of Justice]

Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera Sentence

Federal Judge Sentenced Gouveia-Aguilera To Eight Years In Prison. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Gouveia-Aguilera on August 20, 2026, in federal court in Omaha to 96 months in federal prison. [U.S. Department of Justice]

Sentence Believed To Be Longest Federal Prison Term For ATM Jackpotting. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Gouveia-Aguilera’s eight-year sentence is believed to be the longest federal sentence imposed on an individual for participating in an ATM jackpotting scheme. [WOWT]

Gouveia-Aguilera Also Received Five Years Of Supervised Release. In addition to imprisonment, Buescher ordered Gouveia-Aguilera to serve five years of supervised release and imposed $500 in special assessments. [U.S. Department of Justice]

Judge Ordered Gouveia-Aguilera To Pay Restitution. The federal court also ordered Gouveia-Aguilera to pay restitution stemming from losses caused by the jackpotting conspiracy. [U.S. Department of Justice]

Tren De Aragua ATM Jackpotting Investigation

Federal Authorities Say Broader Jackpotting Conspiracy Is Connected To Tren De Aragua. The Justice Department says its investigation has established extensive direct and indirect connections between defendants in the nationwide ATM operation and Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan transnational criminal organization designated by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization. Prosecutors have said jackpotting proceeds helped finance the organization’s operations. [U.S. Department of Justice]

Justice Department Has Charged 119 Defendants In Nationwide Investigation. By the time Gouveia-Aguilera was sentenced in August 2026, federal prosecutors said 119 defendants had been charged in Nebraska in connection with the broader ATM jackpotting conspiracy. Gouveia-Aguilera was the third defendant sentenced in the district in connection with the investigation. [U.S. Department of Justice]

Earlier Investigation Alleged Millions Stolen And More Than $1.7 Million In Additional Attempts. By February 2026, prosecutors said the expanding investigation had already identified more than $6 million in losses to financial institutions and at least another $1.74 million in attempted thefts. The investigation continued to grow afterward as additional defendants and alleged attacks were identified. [U.S. Department of Justice]