DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT THEFTS FROM ATMS

Three defendants who resided in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas, were recently sentenced to federal prison by U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson for conspiracy to commit bank burglary and bank theft. They previously pled guilty to their respective charges.

• Deantae D. Mason, age 26, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, followed by a term of three years of supervised release, and was further ordered to pay $285,120 in restitution and forfeit $95,039.99. 
• Alex A. Mata, age 23, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment, followed by a term of three years of supervised release, and was further ordered to pay $285,120 in restitution and forfeit $95,039.99. 
• Brandon C. Griffin, Jr., age 26, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment followed by a term of three years of supervised release and was further ordered to pay $106,120 in restitution and forfeit $35,373.33.

According to admissions made as part of their guilty pleas, local law enforcement was alerted to numerous attempted and successful burglaries of ATMs in the Baton Rouge area. The incidents involved similar characteristics and modus operandi, including the use of stolen vehicles, typically large trucks, and tow straps to pull open ATM doors or completely remove them from their concrete base. Members of the conspiracy scouted banks for potential ATM thefts, surveilled nearby areas for large trucks to steal, and served as lookouts while other members committed the ATM burglaries.

Specifically, an ATM at a Pelican State Credit Union branch located on N. Lobdell Boulevard in Baton Rouge was ripped from its concrete base and destroyed. Approximately $106,120 was taken from the bank. Mason, Griffin, and Mata admitted to participating in this incident. Subsequently, an ATM at a Neighbors Federal Credit Union branch on Howell Boulevard in Baton Rouge was also burglarized. Approximately $179,000 was taken and the bank suffered significant damage to its ATM. Mason and Mata admitted to participating in this incident, as well. 

U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baton Rouge Police Department, and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Vick and Will Morris, who also serves as Criminal Chief, led the prosecution.