After a string of ATM robberies and an ATM bombing, a fugitive suspected of being part of a crew robbing the banking machines in California, Oregon and Washington was arrested last week in Newport Beach.
Diego Ananias Arellano Diaz was charged with bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. He is suspected of participating in a months-long conspiracy to steal money from ATMs and banks.
Between May and October last year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says, Arellano was part of a crew that found ATMs in “vulnerable locations,” disguised themselves as construction workers and used cellphone jammers and blowtorches to break into the machines — taking over $4 million cash in total.
The crew rented short-term vacation rentals and drove cars rented from the black market to conceal themselves. Over 29 banks and credit unions were targeted, federal authorities say.
In October 2024, a grand jury charged 11 defendants with bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery. Arellano was separately charged, first as a “John Doe” until officials learned his full name, they said.
His ties to Newport Beach were not spelled out by federal authorities.
Arellano is a suspect in a July 2025 bombing that happened at a Target in San Ramon, according to the San Ramon police.
He could face a maximum 20 years in prison for bank robbery and five years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank robbery, if convicted as charged.