Security

Houston man sentenced to 4 years in prison for ATM hook and chain attacks

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June 4, 2026

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Jacobei Townsend, 24 was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to an ATM hook-and-chain spree. Prosecutors say that Townsend targeted seven financial institutions in Texas and Arizona in these attacks between August and September 2020, according to a report by Fox 26 Houston.

In each incident, the culprits used stolen trucks to rip open the ATM with chains and remove the cash.

Homeland Security Task Force investigated these incidents as part of Executive Order 14159, which aims to address transnational criminal groups.