2 More Marylanders Charged In ATM Thefts Across The DMV

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — This week, two additional Maryland residents have been charged in connection to the string of crimes prosecutors say they committed involving the thefts of more than 75 ATMs.

Jonathan Winston, 35, of Hagerstown, and Jeffery Felder, 37, of Bowie, were arrested Tuesday morning in Georgia by the U.S. Marshals Service. They have been charged along with Stefon Janey, 32, of Accokeek, Thomas Hughes, 37, of Cheverly, and Jenarro Hewett, 33, of Upper Marlboro, with interference with interstate commerce by robbery (also known as Hobbs Act Robbery) and conspiracy. They are believed to be responsible for more than 75 robberies between August 2023 and June 2024.

“As alleged in the indictment, this crew conspired to commit roughly 40 brazen robberies where they used ‘Jaws of Life’ and similar tools to peel open ATM machines inside stores and outside banks,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves. “Even though the defendants destroyed surveillance footage and took other steps to cover their tracks, our prosecutors and law enforcement officers worked tirelessly to identify the members of this crew who terrorized our region. With all the defendants now arrested, we can work equally hard to hold them accountable for their crimes.”

According to the indictment and other court documents, the defendants would target commercial businesses with ATM machines, enter the business wearing masks and gloves, and would use tools common to fire/rescue, such as Jaws of Life, to pry open or cut open the doors of the store and the ATMs. The suspects sometimes carried firearms, used stolen vehicles, communicated via handheld radios and destroyed surveillance.

Prior to each robbery, the co-conspirators would meet in vehicles at a predetermined location. At these meet-up locations, the co-conspirators would hop in a different car to carry out the robberies. They carried out multiple robberies over the course of a single evening and would often communicate with each other using handheld radios.

After arriving at a store, the defendants would divide up, with one conspirator remaining in the car as the getaway driver, pry open the outer door and then at least one of the defendants would subdue the store employees, sometimes directing them to enclosed areas of the store. At least one defendant would attempt to destroy the store’s surveillance and network equipment. At least one defendant would utilize a Jaws of Life style tool to open the ATM and remove the cash cassettes. They would flee the store and escape in the robbery vehicle.

Between August 2023 and June 2024, the indictment charges these defendants with robbing or attempting to rob at least 75 ATM machines, laundering at least some of the proceeds at casinos, and related offenses.

Law enforcement arrested Hughes, Hewett, and Janey on July 24, and as a result of the arrests and searches, agents and officers recovered 12 firearms, more than $80,000 in cash, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and thousands of dollars’ worth of high-end clothing and merchandise.

During the arrests of Felder and Winston on Oct. 15, law enforcement recovered three additional firearms among other evidence.