Full Breakdown
Capture of “Prometheus”: Venezuelan Cybercriminal Brought to U.S. Court
By Drooid · · How we work
Capture and Federal Charges
On October 2, Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre, a 50-year-old Venezuelan known as “Prometheus” and “The Engineer,” appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson in Nebraska. He pleaded not guilty to four federal counts: conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer-fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization. He remains detained pending trial.
Background on the ATM Jackpotting Scheme
Prosecutors allege Canelon Aguirre led an international conspiracy that used custom malware—referred to as “Ploutus”—to force ATMs to dispense cash without debiting bank accounts, a technique known as “ATM jackpotting.” The operation, linked to the Tren de Aragua gang—a Venezuelan prison-origin syndicate now active across the Western Hemisphere—generated millions of dollars for the group. Authorities say the scheme operated from early 2024 and targeted locations in 47 states, Washington, D.C., and several foreign countries.
Legal Proceedings and Potential Sentences
The Justice Department’s indictment, filed last year, outlines four charges that carry maximum penalties of up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the bank-fraud count, up to 20 years for money-laundering, and up to 15 years for material-support. The department reports that 120 defendants have been charged in Nebraska in connection with the broader conspiracy, with three co-defendants already sentenced to 78–96 months in prison.
Official Statements & Responses
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva described Canelon Aguirre as a “key architect of sophisticated malware” that funded Tren de Aragua’s violent activities. FBI Director Kash Patel noted that the capture marks the tenth arrest of a Ten Most Wanted fugitive since the current administration began. The Justice Department emphasized that the indictment remains an allegation and that Canelon Aguirre is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Criticism of FBI Ten-Most-Wanted Practices
An investigation by MS NOW alleged that, under Director Patel, the FBI has added fugitives to the Ten Most Wanted list shortly before their arrests, potentially inflating the agency’s success metrics. The FBI has publicly disputed those claims, stating that the reporting is false.