Indictment Unsealed Charging Three With Attempts To Blow Up, Damage Bank ATM Machines

SALT LAKE CITY –  A federal indictment unsealed Thursday charges three individuals with attempting to damage or destroy bank ATM machines by means of fire and an explosive during a string of incidents at three Utah credit unions and a bank in January.

Brian Winters, age 32, Christopher Izatt, age 33, and Guillermo Cruz, age 34, all of Salt Lake County, are charged with destruction and attempted destruction of property used in interstate commerce by fire or explosive in the four-count indictment.

Winters is charged in connection with a Jan. 7, 2018, attempt to damage or destroy an ATM machine located at a Goldenwest Credit Union in West Jordan.  Izatt and Cruz are charged with attempts to damage or destroy two ATMs – an American First Credit Union ATM in Salt Lake City on Jan. 7, 2018, and a Chartway Federal Credit Union in West Jordan on Jan. 19, 2018.  The final count of the indictment charges Winters and Izatt with attempting to damage or destroy a Zions Bank ATM in Draper on Jan. 21, 2018.

Evidence collected at each attempt to damage or destroy an ATM, including surveillance videos at the credit unions, bank, and other locations, helped FBI agents develop suspects in the case.

Defendants in the case have had initial appearances on the charges in the indictment and have entered not guilty pleas.  A four-day jury trial has been set for June 25, 2018, before U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell.  Winters, Izatt, and Gruz will remain in federal custody pending the outcome of the case.

The potential maximum penalty for each count in the indictment is 20 years with a mandatory minimum of five years.

Indictments are not findings of guilt. Individuals charged in an indictment are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty of the charges in court.

FBI special agents are investigating the case. Salt Lake fire investigators and officers with the Unified Police Department, West Jordan, Draper, Salt Lake City, and Sandy police departments also are contributing to the investigation.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah is prosecuting the case.