They arrived wearing construction vests and surgical masks and armed with signal jammers, sledgehammers and torches. Federal prosecutors say the bank robbers, made up mostly of Chilean nationals, robbed multiple banks across California and stole $2.5 million.
In Fresno, a crew crashed into a Wells Fargo in May, using tools to break into an ATM safe through an adjacent unit and flee with more than $80,000 in cash. The next month, he stole $226,000 from a Golden 1 Credit Union branch in Auburn, and a few days later stole cash estimated at between $150,000 and $200,000 each from two ATMs in Clovis. I did.
Bank robbers scouted the scene of the robbery and sprayed surveillance camera lenses with black paint.
(U.S. Attorney’s Office)
But earlier this month, 10 people believed to be part of the crew were charged in connection with the robbery. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California include Alex Moyano Morales, Maite Celis Silva, Eric Osorio Olivarez, Pablo Andres Valdez Rodriguez, Rosa Francisca Bastias Serra, and Camilo Andres. – Indicted Sepulveda Guzmán, John Doe 2, Basil Alejandro Cacosta Frias, and Camilo. October 21st, Mr. Alarcon Alarcon and Mr. Michel Alondra Parada Muñoz. The charges were first reported by the East Bay Times.
Prosecutors said the suspects were involved in location reconnaissance, bank break-ins or other activities related to the robbery. Authorities say more than a dozen robberies or attempted robberies occurred between June 14 and Sept. 22 from Long Beach to Yuba City. FBI agents said they believe the same ring is connected to a robbery in Houston in January.
Many of the suspects in the case have been arrested in California, Florida, and Chile. One suspect is from Venezuela and several suspects have aliases, according to court records.
According to court records, a confidential informant claimed that Moyano was involved in multiple robberies in other states and that he was the leader of what the FBI called the “South American Theft Group.” Moyano was arrested in Glendale on March 13 and a warrant was issued for his arrest under the alias Nicholas Hernandez.
FBI agents said they began investigating the bank robbery ring in May and linked their signature tactics to multiple robberies across California. The crew, dressed in various worker attire, scouted the location prior to the robbery, forced entry into a store adjacent to the bank, and used signal jammers to disable wireless security equipment. A sledgehammer and torch were also used to break into the vault.
Images of a group of robbers who used tools to break into a Wells Fargo ATM safe and steal more than $80,000 in cash in May 2024. Ten people were charged in connection with the robbery.
(U.S. Attorney’s Office)
A key break in the case occurred when three vehicles were linked to common robberies locations in Fresno, Modesto, Roseville, Rocklin, Yuba City and Fall River Mills, according to court records.
A silver Chevrolet Suburban, a silver Audi SUV, and a white Ford Explorer were all located at or near the scene of the robbery or attempted robbery.
In September, a Chevrolet was pulled over in Simi Valley, but there was no connection between the driver and the crew. The vehicle was reported stolen by the Herts rental company, but the driver claimed to have rented the car from a club promoter known as ‘xtrackz’. Prosecutors did not release the club promoter’s real name, but when FBI agents questioned him, they learned that the car had been rented by a man named “Gordito,” who was later identified as Moyano.
Moyano didn’t know his Chevrolet had an Apple AirTag tracking device. The vehicle’s location history matched that of an Airbnb rental on multiple robberies, according to court records.
On September 18, the crew broke into a Wells Fargo in Fresno and stole $247,000. Prosecutors say they broke into the ATM’s vault by breaking through the wall of the pet spa next door. Surveillance footage of the suspects inside the pet spa before the robbery shows one suspect distracting employees while another tests the durability of the walls. Ta. One of the suspects is seen wearing an upside-down L.A. hat and spraying black paint on a surveillance camera outside the store.
According to court records, the Airbnb was rented to Celis, who also owned several other Airbnbs around California that matched the times and locations of several other ATM robberies and attempted robberies. I was also renting one.
Members of the bank robbers scouted locations and nearby businesses, often concealing their identities with surgical masks.
(U.S. Attorney’s Office)
Surveillance footage from Airbnb rentals in Turlock and Mount Shasta shows the suspects moving into the rentals with hard case tool boxes, tool bags, and backpacks, including several pieces of equipment. The equipment matched the equipment seen in the robbery.
Federal investigators said license plate readers also captured vehicles associated with the group in Oregon, where they committed at least two ATM robberies around the same time. Federal agents obtained a search warrant for Moyano’s Instagram account, where he recorded a child shuffling a large wad of hundred-dollar bills and another post showing him holding several wads of cash. It turned out that there was a photo of him.
In mid-October, federal agents tracked a white Audi to an Airbnb in Oregon. The suspects rented the space from October 16th to 22nd. Surveillance footage showed all three vehicles associated with the suspects were at the rental location. Valdez, Bastias, Sepulveda, DaCosta and Alarcon were all in attendance at the Airbnb.
The group sped away on Oct. 18, suspecting police were closing in, according to court records. The next day, investigators found burglary tools and a tool case inside the abandoned rental unit.
The same day, a white Audi’s location data led federal agents to an Airbnb in Seattle. Bastias and Sepulveda were stopped and arrested. Valdez, DaCosta, Alarcon and another man tried to drive away in a silver Ford Fiesta, but they were also stopped.
FBI agents surrounded the Seattle home and ordered everyone to come out. Parada and another woman came out and were arrested. According to an FBI affidavit, it took three agents to obtain Parada’s cell phone while he was being arrested.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the Airbnb and found about $20,000, as well as backpacks and clothing matching those worn by the group during previous robberies, according to court records.
Celis gave birth while in custody on Monday. She asked the court to allow her daughter to stay with her after she is discharged from the hospital.
