Member of Chilean ATM Robbery Crew Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Bank Robbery

FRESNO, Calif. - A member of an ATM robbery crew, Francisco Antonio Marin Ilbaca, 46, of Chile, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit bank robbery arising from a string of robberies of banks and ATMs throughout California, Oregon, and Washington, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, Marin Ilbaca and his co-defendants were part of a South American theft group that conspired to break into and steal money from financial institutions between May and October of 2024. Conspirators rented cars on the black market to transport themselves to and from the robberies and to scout potential robbery locations in advance of each crime. Once they identified ATMs in vulnerable locations, they used construction-crew disguises, blowtorches, and cellphone jammers, among other sophisticated tactics, to break into the banks and ATMs and steal cash. Marin Ilbaca and nine other coven-conspirators are currently charged for their roles in the conspiracy. During the entire period of the conspiracy, the total loss amount caused in furtherance of the conspiracy exceeded $5.5 million.

Marin Ilbaca is set for sentencing on June 8, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank robbery. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the police departments of the cities of Fresno, Citrus Heights, Clovis, Elk Grove, Fresno, Modesto, Rocklin, Roseville, and Sacramento; and the Placer County Sheriff's Office. Assistance was provided by the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Office, and the Seattle Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Veneman-Hughes and Justin J. Gilio are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.