The mastermind behind a series of ATM thefts in New York City has been handed a six to 12-year prison sentence for his crime spree. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced the sentencing of Alexander Torres, known as "Chacho," who led a group responsible for 14 different ATM burglaries across the city. His five accomplices had previously pled guilty and received varying sentences for their roles in the thefts, which occurred from June 2022 to January 2023, as reported by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
The burglary ring was notably active and destructive, targeting numerous businesses to remove and later forcibly open ATM machines. The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office was able quickly to assemble a case against the defendants after a complaint was filed, a fact emphasized by Gonzalez, who stated, "This brazen group of criminals caused serious financial damage across the city." Their operations were sophisticated, utilizing apartments in Clinton Hill and East New York as staging grounds for their heists, alongside police scanners to monitor law enforcement proximity and avoid detection. Surveillance video captured the burglars using tools such as bolt cutters to break in and dislodge ATMs from their foundations.
Francisco Torres, "Fusion," and Alexander’s brother, was sentenced to five years after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary. Jesus Cedeno, "Capone," received a five to ten-year sentence following his guilty plea to third-degree burglary and attempted burglary. Angel Barbosa, "Pucci," is expected to be sentenced on May 14 after pleading guilty to second-degree assault and agreeing to a five-year prison term. Two other accomplices involved in a single burglary each, Luis Villanueva "Cholo," and Chris Moustakos "Chris the Greek," were previously sentenced to one and a half to three years, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
One incident escalated beyond burglary when Angel Barbosa led authorities on a high-speed chase that culminated in a violent crash at LaGuardia Airport. Barbosa had initially been caught with a police scanner on October 26, 2022, then again on November 1, 2022, with two stolen ATMs, which led to him trying to evade and subsequently injure two officers by crashing into their unmarked police vehicle. Despite the increased caution demonstrated by the burglary crew, they continued their operation until their eventual January 18, 2023 arrest following the bodega break-in in South Richmond Hill, Queens, as noted by the District Attorney's investigation.
Nine incidents in Brooklyn, four in Queens, and one in the Bronx were part of a series of thefts currently under investigation, with the total financial impact still being assessed. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office led the investigation and prosecution with assistance from the NYPD. The case was managed by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Nicole Lauterbach and Corey Hardin of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of senior staff within the Investigations Division.
