ATM Jackpotter from Venezuela Pleads Guilty in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS - An illegal alien from Venezuela on Thursday admitted stealing thousands of dollars by jackpotting two ATMs in Missouri.

Aaron Nieves-Carrillo, 21, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of conspiracy and one count of bank theft. He admitted being part of a group of Venezuelans involved in the same activity across the U.S. Nieves-Carrillo and others installed hardware and/or software into ATMs and then manipulated the ATMs to dispense cash, Nieves-Carrillo's plea agreement says. Nieves-Carrillo admitted stealing $11,000 from an ATM in Festus, Missouri on Feb. 27, 2025, and $2,800 from an ATM in Kirkwood the next day.

Nieves-Carrillo's sentencing is set for Feb. 4, 2027. The conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and the bank theft charge is punishable by up to 10 years. Both charges carry a fine of up to $250,000. He also faces deportation.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.