MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Two people from Venezuela were indicted Thursday in connection with a conspiracy to steal cash from ATMs in Merced and Tulare counties, as well as six other western states, the United States Department of Justice said.

The DOJ says 25-year-old Joel Alejandro Morantes Leal of San Cristóbal, Venezuela and 22-year-old Endis Daniel Gonzalez Ortega, also from Venezuela, were charged in a conspiracy to steal cash from ATMs in Merced and Tulare counties, as well as six other western states.

Morantes was also charged with one count of bank robbery, one count of accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud and three counts of attempting to access a protected computer in furtherance of fraud, according to the DOJ.

Court documents state that Morantes and Gonzalez were engaged in an ATM “jackpotting” conspiracy between April 1 and May 29. The pair is accused of stealing money from ATMs at targeted banks and credit unions by affecting the ATMs with malware and causing them to dispense money without a valid transaction.

Additionally, the DOJ said they worked with others, targeting ATMs in California, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Nebraska, Utah and Washington. The pair and their co-conspirators jackpotted or attempted to jackpot more than 30 ATMs, receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The DOJ reports that the pair stole approximately $94,800 in cash during an incident in April at a credit union in Merced County.

This is an ongoing investigation. If convicted, Morantes and Gonzalez face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

If convicted of bank robbery, Morantes faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of accessing or attempting to access a protected computer in furtherance of fraud, he faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.