Article

Fund set up for ATM operator who was shot in the face during robbery

Jose Corniel was performing a routine fill when the incident happened.

December 1, 2011 by Kim Williams — Reporter, NetWorld Alliance

On Aug. 2, an Atlanta convenience store that was home to an ATM installed by independent ATM deployer JC ATM Services was robbed. JC ATM Services co-owner Jose Corniel was filling the machine at the time and was shot in the face.

According to his business partner Paul Giacco, it happened around 9:15 a.m. and was witnessed by about seven people. The assailant also shot at the convenience store clerk, but he was protected by the bullet proof glass surrounding the counter.

The suspect was taken into custody seven days later and there was a hearing for him this week in Fulton County, Ga.

"Jose is hoping to recover in time for his wedding on February 12. The doctors say recovery can take two to four months, so it'll be close. Although insurance paid for his first few weeks in the hospital in August ($240,000 total), and will pay for much of the follow up surgery, the dental expenses will be significant and not covered by insurance because it's 'cosmetic.' I believe he lost 6 teeth, or more (not exactly sure) in the incident. Jose told me a few weeks ago that the cost for the dental work will be $20,000-$27,000," Giacco wrote in an email to ATMmarketplace.com.

Giacco went on to say that there was a news helicopter overhead and about 18 police cars when he arrived at the scene that morning. However, there was no news story that he could find about the incident.

"Unfortunately, in that area, these incidents are quite common from what they tell me. That location, as well as seven others that we used to service in that area, are now filled by Loomis armored car services. This makes us feel much better these days," Giacco wrote.

Cabe & Cato, a Georgia-based provider of ATM sales and services, along with Giacco, have set up a fund to help Jose and his fiancé with the hardships of the medical bills and missing work.

From the fund letter:

Please join Jim and I in providing support and assistance to a friend, colleague and business associate that was brutally robbed and shot while doing what many of us do on a daily basis... servicing an ATM.

Jose is an awesome guy that we have had the privilege of working with (and his partner, Paul) since 2004. Jose will recover, but will require many surgeries and miss many months of work.

A donation account has been set up with Signature Bank of Georgia. Contributions can be made payable to The Jose Corniel Fund and can be mailed to: Attn: Warren Cato, 8601 Dunwoody Pl, STE 106, Atlanta, Ga., 30350. The account officer, Patrick Burkhalter, can be reached at 770-391-1400.

Jose is a native of New York City. He relocated to Atlanta in 1998 to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology where he obtained a degree in Industrial Engineering. Upon graduation, Jose began working as a business consultant for consulting firm Accenture.

In November 2004, Jose and business partner, Giaccio, founded JC ATM Services LLC and placed their first ATM at the Twisted Taco location in midtown Atlanta. After four years of successful business growth, in 2008, Jose and his partner respectively left their corporate jobs to pursue the success of JC ATM Services LLC on a full time basis. Today, JC ATM Services LLC is comprised of approximately 265 ATMs throughout the metro Atlanta region largely due to Jose's strong work ethic and dedication.

On Aug. 2, Jose was robbed and shot in the face while filling an ATM. He suffered a shattered mandible and faces a long road to recovery. Jose met fiancée ... in May 2005 and was in the process of planning their February 2012 wedding.

We hope this reminds us all to be careful out there!

--Warren Cato