Fugitive Member Arrested in $4M West Coast ATM Bombing Ring

Diego Ananias Arellano Diaz, also known by the alias Fabio Cristian Hernandez, was arrested in Newport Beach as the last remaining member of a South American ATM robbery crew accused of stealing over $4 million from more than 29 banks and credit unions across California, Oregon, and Washington. The crew, primarily comprised of Chilean nationals, used sophisticated tactics including disguises as construction workers, blowtorches, cellphone jammers, and improvised explosive devices to break into ATMs, with one notable bombing occurring at a Target ATM in San Ramon. They operated between May and October 2024, renting short-term vacation properties near their targets and utilizing black market rental cars to avoid detection. Eleven members of the crew were previously arrested in October 2024, and Arellano Diaz was separately charged and indicted later once his identity was confirmed. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in federal prison for bank robbery and conspiracy, while also facing state charges including assault with a deadly weapon. Authorities recovered tools and evidence from Airbnb rentals used by the crew, highlighting the group's organized and international nature.