Minnesota Cops Arrest Two Men for ‘Jackpotting’ an ATM

Two men thought they hacked the system, but their ATM heist in Minnesota ended with handcuffs and a trip to Dakota County Jail. 🌐 #News #DakotaCountyMN #Minnesota #Crime

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN – Two men are behind bars after an elaborate scheme to steal over $14,000 from a Lakeville ATM using a sophisticated “jackpotting” technique. Their attempt to outsmart the system was foiled, and both suspects now await their next court hearing in Dakota County, Minnesota.

The Heist: High-Tech Theft in Action

The theft took place on Oct. 6 at a Lakeville bank, where two men from Miami – Antonio Pinuela, 23, and Robert Rosales, 42 – allegedly used malware and a handheld device to force the ATM to dispense cash. This jackpotting method involves physically connecting a portable device to the machine and manipulating its cash dispenser.

Bank employees discovered the theft the following day, on Oct. 7. Around 6:25 p.m., an employee noticed suspicious behavior from two individuals near the bank—a man dressed in black riding an electric scooter and someone in a pink sweatshirt, both wearing blue COVID masks. Video surveillance confirmed that the suspects lingered at the site earlier that afternoon, with one manipulating the ATM.

Police Investigation Unfolds

Authorities pieced together events from surveillance footage. The video revealed multiple suspects loitering at the bank beginning at 2 p.m. One man was seen wearing an earpiece and operating the ATM before leaving on an electric scooter. Other footage captured a suspect using a small device with pushbuttons and a screen to interact with the machine.

The breakthrough in the investigation came on Oct. 11, when the Minnesota State Patrol received a tip from Michigan State Patrol about a related jackpotting case. Using information provided by Michigan authorities, state troopers located the suspects’ vehicle at a Shakopee hotel.

Arrest and Evidence Seized

Pinuela and Rosales were arrested by officers as they exited their hotel in Shakopee. A search of their vehicle uncovered a messenger bag containing a laptop and the handheld device used in the ATM heist. Police also discovered $440 in cash on the suspects.

When Shakopee police executed a search warrant on their hotel room, they found approximately $7,000 in cash, believed to be linked to the Lakeville theft. Both men were taken into custody and transported to Dakota County Jail, where they remain as of now.

Legal Proceedings and Charges

Each suspect faces one count of theft for the $14,400 stolen from the ATM. Bail has been set at $75,000 each, with the option for conditional release at $25,000. Their next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30 at 1:30 p.m.

High-Tech Crimes Raise New Challenges

Jackpotting, a crime that involves hacking into ATMs to trigger cash disbursement, has become a growing concern for banks and law enforcement. Authorities are now investigating whether Pinuela and Rosales are connected to a larger network of thieves operating across multiple states.