KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Six people are in custody in connection with an ATM theft in Kaukauna, accused of stealing nearly $38,000.
As immigration and crime have been in the spotlight this election cycle, one area lawmaker believes a Venezuelan gang may be behind the ATM burglary. However, police say they’re unaware of any gang connections at this time.
According to the criminal complaint, police were called to the Unison Credit Union, 1000 W. Hyland Ave., for a report of a theft from an ATM on July 5.
Security video captured images of several people in two vehicles “repeatedly accessing the ATM and manipulating it, then removing a large amount of cash, approximately $38,000.00,” the complaint states. The thieves had staged in a nearby parking lot, then made 48 trips to the ATM.
The credit union suspected the thieves had a master key, a small gold key with a rounded base and teeth on both sides. Police later pulled over two vehicles seen on the video.
In one vehicle there were three people: Jesse Duque-Escobar, who had a Venezuelan passport, and a universal ATM key; Johamnel Ortz-Sanchez, who also had a Venezuelan passport and $2,000 in $20 bills; and Manuel Alejandro (charged as Manuel Pina-Gonzalez), who had Venezuelan identification.
A subsequent search of the vehicle found a mobile wi-fi device, laptop, and USB cables. The vehicle had a Washington state license plate.
In the second vehicle there were three people: Adony Dalis-Ramirez, who had a Florida ID; Yeniaker Avila-Acevedo, who had a Venezuelan passport; and Andres Escobar-Rodriguez, who had Venezuelan identification. The vehicle had a Texas license plate, the complaint states.
Four of the suspects have Minnesota addresses, while one is from Texas and one from Florida, according to court records.
The complaint does not offer information on what may have happened to the other $36,000. There are no statements to police from any of the six suspects.
Republican state assemblyman Dave Murphy of Greenville is raising attention to the fact all the suspects possessed Venezualan IDs, suggesting they’re part of the Venezualan gang Tren de Aragua.
“There’s been a lot of talk about the fact that Venezuelan gangs have been operating in other parts of Wisconsin, and so, because this is a higher level crime, I think it’s not silly to think that these people could be affiliated with that sort of thing,” he told FOX 11.
Murphy sent out a news release Tuesday referencing the Venezuelan gang in connection to the robbery. But police say they have no evidence of such a connection.
Kaukauna Police Chief Jamie Graff told FOX11, “During our investigation we could not confirm they were a part of the Tren De Aragua gang.”
FOX 11 asked Murphy if he has any proof the suspects have connections to this Venezuelan gang.
“We didn’t say that they were. We alluded to the fact that they could be. We didn’t say they were,” he replied. “The thing that drives me to that conclusion that that’s obviously very possible is the fact that they had a master key to the ATM. This is a crime that’s a level above street crime.”
The Tren de Aragua gang has made national headlines for false reports it took over an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado. Aurora police say there’s no evidence their suspects are affiliated with the Venezuelan gang.
In Kaukauna, police chief Graff says he was not contacted by Rep. Murphy or anyone on his staff in regards to this case or his press release.
In a statement, he added: “I am not sure where he obtained information in regards to these individuals being a part of the Tren de Aragua gang as it did not come from our department.”
Murphy implied the Kaukauna arrests could have a larger connection to immigration issues.
“It was by Venezuelan nationals, who are on ICE retainers, we know that,” he said.
FOX 11 reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to see if any of the suspects were on their radar.
We have not yet heard back. We reached one of the attorneys for the suspects, who declined to comment.
The suspects’ upcoming court dates are as follows:
Dalis-Ramirez has a preliminary hearing Thursday. He is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.
Avila-Acevedo has a plea hearing on Oct. 1. She is being held on a $38,000 cash bond.
Escobar-Rodriguez has a pre-trial conference on Oct. 2. He is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.
Duque-Escobar has a preliminary hearing on Oct. 3. He is being held on a $50,000 cash bond.
Pina-Gonzalez has a preliminary hearing on Oct. 3. He is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.
Ortiz-Sanchez has a status conference on Oct. 21. He is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.
Each face a count of theft of movable property worth between $10,000 and $100,000. A conviction would carry a maximum sentence of ten years in the prison system.
Comments