The Federal Bureau of Investigation has disclosed that a group of unauthorized immigrants resorted to using blowtorches, cell phone signal jammers, and disguises to perpetrate bank robberies in various states.
A group of South American illegal immigrants has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly employing "sophisticated tactics," including the use of construction worker disguises, blowtorches, and cell phone jammers, to rob banks across multiple states, resulting in the theft of over $4 million in cash, according to federal prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney Philip A. Talbert reported that a gang, largely formed by Chilean nationals, executed operations against over 29 banks and credit unions located in California, Oregon, and Washington between the months of May and October.
According to the information presented in court documents, the gang installed ATMs in "vulnerable locations" and rented nearby short-term vacation properties, while also using vehicles sourced from the "black market."
Officials indicated that last week, nine of the eleven charged individuals were arrested, with two more being apprehended in Washington on October 30.
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Prosecutors indicated that in one instance, the suspects monitored a business neighboring a Wells Fargo in Modesto, California, unlawfully entered at night, and perforated the wall to access the ATM of the bank.
Images of the alleged bank robbers have been released by the authorities, depicting them in the guise of construction workers, equipped with hard hats, medical masks, and high-visibility safety vests.
In another event, prosecutors disclosed that a bank in Fall River Mills, California, was attacked by robbers. Allegations suggest that they used blowtorches, saws, and other power tools to penetrate the bank and its internal vault. The robbers escaped after being intercepted, leaving some of their tools at the scene.
It was revealed by officials that hundreds of pounds of tools used for robbery, disguises, fraudulent identification documents, and more than $100,000 in cash were located at several short-term rental properties in Oregon and Washington.
Talbert named the illegal immigrants as:
Alex Moyano Morales, 24, of Chile
Maite Celis Silva, 26, of Chile
Erik Osorio Olivarez, 20, of Chile
Pablo Valdez Rodriguez, 36, a Chilean national
Rosa Bastias Serra, 42, of Chile
Camilo Sepulveda Guzman, 31, of Peru
Bassil Dacosta Frias, 34, of Venezuela
Camilo Alarcon Alarcon, 23, of Chile
Michelle Parada Munoz, 21, of Chile
Alvaro Lagos Mieres, 44, of Chile
Humberto Jimenez Moreno, 45, of Chile
Talbert indicated that all individuals involved are charged with conspiracy to commit bank robbery, and that Moyano, Celis, Osorio, Valdez, Bastias, Sepulveda, Lagos, and Jimenez are also facing charges specifically for bank robbery.
The court documents reveal that the defendants targeted various banks and ATMs throughout the Eastern District of California, which includes cities such as Fresno, Auburn, Merced, Clovis, Modesto, Roseville, Rocklin, Yuba City, and Fall River Mills. Furthermore, they also focused on banks and ATMs in Oregon, Washington state, and the Los Angeles vicinity.
If the defendants are convicted, they are liable to face the maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison for the charge of bank robbery, as well as five years for the conspiracy to commit that crime.