06-03-2025
Venezuelan man sentenced to year in jail for Kaukauna ATM robbery, faces deportation
APPLETON — One of six people from Venezuela charged in connection with robbing an ATM at a Kaukauna bank last summer was convicted Wednesday and sentenced to a year in jail.
Manuel Piña Gonzalez, 40, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft of moveable property valued between $10,000 and $100,000, as party to a crime.
He is not a U.S. citizen and likely faces deportation from the country following his jail sentence, both prosecution and defense attorneys said at his plea and sentencing hearing.
Outagamie County Circuit Court Judge Yadira Rein accepted the 12-month jail time recommendation agreed upon by both the prosecution and defense.
"To some, perhaps the joint recommendation that I am being asked to accept may not seem like enough of a punishment," Rein told Piña Gonzalez. "But the collateral consequences of your poor decision-making is going to follow you and your family for the rest of your life."
Piña Gonzalez already has around eight months of jail credit, Rein ruled.
According to a criminal complaint, six people, including Piña Gonzalez, were involved in the robbery of an ATM at Unison Credit Union, 1000 W. Hyland Ave. in Kaukauna, in the early morning hours of July 5, 2024. When officers arrested them, they found five of the six individuals had Venezuelan IDs.
Outagamie County Assistant District Attorney Joshua Dryak said the six people were involved in a "theft scheme" to get money from older ATMs that had security flaws. They downloaded malware onto the ATM, which allowed them to retrieve funds, and took $38,000 out of the machine, he said.
In court, Piña Gonzalez said he was ashamed of his actions. He said he came to the United States for safety and to help his children have educational opportunities. While his family settled in Kansas City, Piña Gonzalez moved to Minnesota to find work to help provide money to his mother, who was sick with cancer, and his father, who had been detained at the U.S. border and needed an attorney.
While in Minnesota, Piña Gonzalez said, he borrowed money from someone, and in exchange was roped into committing the theft.
"Sometimes we make decisions because we don't have the same opportunities as others," Piña Gonzalez said, through a court-sworn Spanish-to-English translator.
Rein said she believes Piña Gonzalez is genuinely sorry for participating in the theft.
"I know that you are very ashamed, because you can barely look up at me," the judge told him. "I don't know what life has in store for you, sir, but you need to hold your head high with the fact that you are here and you took responsibility for your actions, and you truly are remorseful."
Rein also told Piña Gonzalez the crime made life a little harder for people who had money in the bank and made some in the community feel unsafe.
She expressed empathy for his situation.
"This sentence doesn't stop making you a dad and a son, and that's something that you will be no matter where you are," Rein said. "I encourage you — knowing that it's easy for me to say up here — but I encourage you to have hope."
Piña Gonzalez's attorney, Paul Zilles, pointed out the "current political climate" between the United States and Venezuela does not ensure that Piña Gonzalez will be able to return to Venezuela if he is deported, but may instead be sent to a "facility" with other people from South America and Central America.
Four people — Jesse Duque Escobar, 52; Johamnel Ortiz Sanchez, 39; Andres Escobar Rodriguez, 31; and Adonay Dalis Ramirez, 32 — have ongoing cases related to the robbery. Yenaiker Avila Acevedo, 24, was convicted in October of theft of movable property and two counts of disorderly conduct, and given a deferred sentence.
Convicted defendants will also have to pay restitution together, Rein said.
RELATED: Rep. Murphy draws criticism for concerns that Kaukauna ATM robbery was linked to Venezuelan gang
The ATM theft became a political talking point in September, when David Murphy, representative for Wisconsin's 56th Assembly District, issued a news release stating he was concerned that five people arrested in July and charged with stealing money from a Kaukauna ATM are members of a Venezuelan gang.
His opponent in the November 2024 election, Emily Tseffos, slammed Murphy's statements as "irresponsible assumptions."
No discussion was given at the hearing of any known ties between the theft and gang activities.
Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@ Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Venezuelan man convicted of Kaukauna ATM robbery, 5 others charged
