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Blowtorches and Construction Worker Disguises Used in ATM Robbery Spree Across Oregon and the West Coast Crime & Courts By Lucille McNamara On Mar 18, 2026 A string of ATM and bank robberies throughout Oregon, California, and Washington, amounting to over $5.5 million, led to a guilty plea yesterday by a member of the South American theft group. Francisco Antonio Marin Ilbaca (46), of Chile, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California. They Rented Cars on the Black Market to Scout Locations Together with nine other members of the theft group, Ilbaca rented cars on the black market to scout potential bank and ATM locations in advance of each crime. Once they had identified suitable locations, the men disguised themselves as construction workers. They armed themselves with blowtorches to cut open the ATMs, and used cell phone jamming devices, among other sophisticated tactics, to break into the banks and ATMs to steal the cash. According to court documents. Ilbaca and his co-defendants were members of a South American group that conspired to rob financial institutions between May and October, 2024. Tidings Timeline May 2024 : Crew begins conspiracy May to October 2024 : Group scouts banks and ATMs across three states March 17, 2026 : Marin Ilbaca pleads guilty in federal court June 8, 2026 : Sentencing is scheduled in Fresno Ilbaca will be sentenced on June 8, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff and faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank robbery. Tidings Insight A conspiracy plea can carry a lower maximum than the robberies themselves because federal conspiracy law punishes the agreement and an overt act, even before proving each completed robbery count. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as several police departments and sheriff’s offices. Prosecuting the case are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Veneman-Hughes and Justin J. Gilio. Share Twitter Facebook ReddIt WhatsApp Pinterest Email