Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre, a Venezuelan man identified by authorities as “Prometheus” and “The Engineer,” has been apprehended and brought to the United States. He faces federal charges related to a multimillion-dollar ATM hacking operation allegedly linked to the Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan crime syndicate.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Canelon Aguirre was involved in leading an international conspiracy utilizing malicious software to make ATMs dispense cash unlawfully. The operation reportedly generated funds for Tren de Aragua, which is recognized for its involvement in various criminal activities.
On October 2, 2023, Canelon Aguirre appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson in Nebraska, pleading not guilty to four charges against him. These charges include: conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank burglary and fraud in connection with computers, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. He remains detained in Nebraska as he awaits trial.
Canelon Aguirre was indicted by a federal grand jury in Nebraska in December 2025. The FBI had added him to its Most Wanted Fugitives list in March 2026 as the 540th individual and the first alleged cybercriminal. Prosecutors assert he developed the Ploutus malware, facilitating what is known as “ATM jackpotting,” a method used to extract cash from ATMs without affecting customer accounts.
This malware is described as having protections against forensic analysis and debugging, with components designed to remove it from infected systems, obscuring its use from financial institutions.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva emphasized Canelon Aguirre’s role in using advanced technology to further Tren de Aragua’s operations across the United States.
The conspiracy allegedly targeted ATM operators in 47 states, Washington, D.C., and several international locations. The Justice Department revealed that 120 individuals have been charged in Nebraska, with three already sentenced: Oddry Arnoldo Cabrera Torrealba, Carlos Javier Padron, and Juan Manuel Gouveia Aguilera.
FBI’s Director Kash Patel acknowledged Canelon Aguirre as the 10th capture from the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list since Trump’s administration commenced. However, the FBI’s management of this list has been scrutinized for claims that figures were inflated by adding fugitives shortly before their arrests.
Newsweek has reached out to Canelon Aguirre’s legal team and the FBI for comments but has been unable to receive a response during non-business hours.