South American crew members used signal jammers and camouflage during robberies, FBI agents say

They arrived in construction vests and surgical masks, armed with signal jammers, sledgehammers and blowtorches. The bank robbery squad, made up mostly of Chilean nationals, held up several banks across California and stole $2.5 million, according to federal prosecutors.

In Fresno in May, crews encountered a Wells Fargo and used tools to enter an ATM vault through an adjacent unit. She stole cash worth over $80,000. The next month, they stole $226,000 from a Golden 1 Credit Union branch in Auburn and a few days later stole money from two ATMs in Clovis that were estimated to contain $150,000 to $200,000 each.

But earlier this month, 10 people believed to be part of the crew were charged in connection with the robberies. Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California have charged Alex Moyano Morales, Maite Celis Silva, Erik Osorio Olivarez, Pablo Andres Valdez Rodriguez, Rosa Francisca Bastias Serra, Camilo Andres Sepulveda Guzman, John Doe 2, Bassil Alejandro Cacosta Frias and Camilo Alarcon Alarcon and Michelle Alondra Parada Muñoz on October 21st. The allegations were first reported by the East Bay Times.

According to prosecutors, the suspects were either involved in site reconnaissance, breaking into banks or other activities related to the robberies. Authorities point to more than a dozen robberies or attempted robberies from June 14 to Sept. 22, ranging from Long Beach to Yuba City. FBI agents believe the same ring is connected to a January robbery in Houston.

Many of the suspects in the case were previously arrested in California, Florida and Chile. One suspect is originally from Venezuela and several suspects have pseudonyms, according to court documents.

A confidential informant claims that Moyano is connected to several robberies in other states and that he is the leader of the group, which the FBI calls the South American Theft Group, according to court documents. Moyano was arrested March 13 in Glendale, where there was a warrant for his arrest under his alias Nicholas Hernandez.

FBI agents said they began investigating the bank robbery squad in May and linked their signature tactics to several robberies across California. Wearing various worker costumes, crew members scouted locations in advance of the robberies, broke into a bank branch, and used signal jammers to disable wireless security devices. They also used sledgehammers and blowtorches to get into the vaults.

Images of a gang of robbers using tools to break into the vault of an ATM at Wells Fargo in May 2024 and steal more than $80,000 in cash. Ten people were charged in connection with the robberies.

(U.S. Attorney's Office)

A major breakthrough in the case came when three vehicles were linked to common robbery 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 present at or near the robberies or attempted robberies.

In September, the Chevrolet was stopped in Simi Valley, but the driver has not been associated with the crew. The vehicle was reported stolen from a Hertz rental company, but the driver claimed he rented the car from a club promoter named “xtrackz.” Prosecutors did not reveal the club promoter's real name, but FBI agents interviewed him and learned that the vehicle was rented to a man named “Gordito,” who later turned out to be Moyano.

Moyano didn't know that the Chevrolet was equipped with an Apple AirTag tracking device. According to court documents, the vehicle's location history matched Airbnb rentals on multiple robbery dates.

On September 18, the crew broke into a Wells Fargo in Fresno and made off with $247,000. According to prosecutors, they broke into the ATM vault by breaking through the wall of a pet spa next door. Surveillance footage of the suspects at the pet spa before the robbery showed one suspect distracting an employee while another tested the durability of a wall. One of the suspects, wearing a backwards LA hat, is seen spraying black paint on a security camera outside the store.

The Airbnb was rented to Celis, who also rented several other Airbnbs throughout California that matched the times and locations of several other ATM break-ins or attempted break-ins, according to court documents.

Members of the bank robbery crew scouted locations and nearby stores, often concealing their identities with surgical masks.

(U.S. Attorney's Office)

Surveillance footage from the Airbnb rentals in Turlock and Mount Shasta showed the suspects entering the rental units with hard-sided toolboxes, tool bags and backpacks consistent with equipment seen in several robberies.

Federal investigators say the vehicles linked to the group were also picked up by license plate readers in Oregon and that at least two ATM robberies occurred there around the same time. Federal agents obtained a search warrant for Moyano's Instagram accounts. They discovered that he had filmed a child shuffling large stacks of hundred dollar bills and in another post he was seen holding several stacks of cash.

In mid-October, federal agents tracked the white Audi to an Airbnb in Oregon. The suspects rented the location from October 16 to October 22. According to surveillance footage, all three cars associated with the group were at the rental location. Valdez, Bastias, Sepulveda, Dacosta and Alarcon were all present at the Airbnb.

The group became suspicious of police approaching them and they quickly left on Oct. 18, court records show. The following day, investigators found robbery tools and toolboxes in the abandoned rental unit.

That same day, location data from the white Audi led federal investigators 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 were also stopped.

FBI agents surrounded the Seattle home and ordered everyone out. Parada and another woman came out and were arrested. According to an FBI affidavit, it took three agents to take a cellphone from Parada's hand during her arrest.

According to court documents, investigators obtained a search warrant for the Airbnb and found approximately $20,000, as well as backpacks and clothing that matched those worn by the group in their previous robberies.

Celis gave birth to her child in custody on Monday. She has asked the court to allow her daughter to stay with her after she is discharged from the hospital.