Treasury Sanctioned 10 Linked to Tren de Aragua Network

The U.S. government targeted individuals and entities involved in a multimillion-dollar ATM jackpotting scheme.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Financial Crime

Treasury Sanctioned 10 Linked to Tren de Aragua Network

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The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned 10 individuals and entities associated with the Tren de Aragua criminal network. These measures block all property and financial interests belonging to the sanctioned targets within the United States.

Why it matters

The sanctions are intended to deny the criminal group access to the U.S. financial system, which serves as a major hub for their illicit activities. Foreign banks that facilitate transactions for these designees now risk losing their own access to U.S. financial markets.

Federal prosecutors have charged 98 people in the ATM jackpotting ring since late 2025. This follows an earlier federal designation of the network as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February 2025.

The players

U.S. Treasury Department

This cabinet-level executive department manages federal finances, enforces economic sanctions, and oversees the national currency.

Tren de Aragua

This transnational criminal organization originated in Venezuela and has expanded its illicit operations throughout South America and the United States.

Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre

He is a suspected operative currently featured on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

Juan Gabriel Rivas Nunez

He is a criminal suspect who was indicted in Texas on charges of providing material support to the network.

The details

Criminals involved in the scheme installed rogue software on automated teller machines to remotely trigger cash withdrawals, with proceeds often laundered through cryptocurrency. The network has faced significant legal pressure, including indictments in Texas and pending federal charges in Nebraska for bank fraud and money laundering.

In 2024, the U.S. government designated the group as a transnational criminal organization.
In February 2025, the group was labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
As of August 2025, the ATM jackpotting scheme caused more than $40.7 million in losses.
Since late 2025, federal prosecutors have charged 98 people in the jackpotting ring.
On September 30, 2026, the U.S. Treasury announced sanctions against 10 individuals and entities.

Terrorism
Sept. 30
Treasury Expanded Sanctions Against Tren de Aragua
Drug Crime
Sept. 29
US Treasury Sanctioned Sinaloa Cartel Affiliates
International Relations
Sept. 22
Trump Hosted Shield of the Americas Event

Legal Context

These sanctions represent a strategic escalation in the federal government's efforts to dismantle the financial infrastructure of transnational criminal groups. This move mirrors past campaigns against international illicit networks where isolating key associates from the U.S. dollar became the primary tool for disruption.

These sanctions are aimed at limiting the financial reach of a criminal organization, which may prompt banks to update their monitoring systems for ATM transactions nationwide. Residents and businesses should remain vigilant regarding suspicious ATM activity and report any unauthorized software or hardware tampering to local law enforcement.

The takeaway

The use of targeted sanctions highlights the government's shift toward financial warfare to combat decentralized criminal rings. Consumers should remain aware of ATM security by choosing well-lit, high-traffic locations and inspecting machines for physical tampering.