A Venezuelan man, identified as an alleged leader of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization and the first cyber fugitive ever listed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, has been returned to U.S. territory after his apprehension overseas last month. Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre, 50, who also uses the monikers "Prometheus" and "The Engineer," is now facing judicial proceedings in the United States.
Aguirre made his initial court appearance in a Nebraska courtroom on Friday. He entered a plea of not guilty to four federal conspiracy charges related to a multi-million-dollar ATM "jackpotting" operation. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), he will remain in custody in Nebraska pending his trial.
Charges and Allegations
The charges against Aguirre include four counts of conspiracy: bank fraud, bank burglary and computer fraud, money laundering, and providing material support to terrorists. The bank fraud conspiracy charge carries the most severe potential penalty, with a maximum of 30 years in prison, as stated by the DOJ.
An ATM "jackpotting" attack is a sophisticated cybercrime where perpetrators exploit vulnerabilities in automated teller machines, often using malware, to compel the devices to dispense cash illicitly. Prosecutors allege that Canelon Aguirre was instrumental in developing the malicious software used in these attacks and served as one of the primary figures in the suspected ATM jackpotting conspiracy.
Law Enforcement Response
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted Aguirre's repatriation as a significant achievement, noting it marks the tenth capture of a Ten Most Wanted fugitive since the start of the Trump administration. Patel also emphasized that Aguirre is the first cyber fugitive ever to be placed on the prestigious list.
"Now he’s back in the United States to face justice," Patel remarked. "This FBI is running on supercharged horsepower — and there is nowhere on this planet criminals can hide."
Patel further stated that these ten captures represent more than two and a half times the total number recorded during the preceding four-year period. Aguirre's capture in Venezuela last month was subsequently communicated by Patel to lawmakers, where he confirmed the apprehension of one of the nation's top fugitives.
Connection to Organized Crime and Justice Department Action
The Department of Justice indicates that the broader ATM jackpotting conspiracy is connected to Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal enterprise that the U.S. government has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that since the designation of Tren de Aragua, the DOJ has brought charges against nearly 350 alleged members and associates of the group.
"The capture and arrest of Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre marks yet another success for the Homeland Security Task Force and Joint Task Force Vulcan," Blanche stated. "We will continue to break up narcoterrorist finance networks, prosecute violent criminals, and keep American neighborhoods safe."
