Lang
5/16/25
One of two suspects in an Iowa City jackpotting scheme has been given a five-year prison sentence.
Judge Chad Kepros handed that sentence down to 50-year-old Cristian Chira earlier this month.
Iowa City Police say Chira and 22-year-old Daniel Villegas walked into L&M Mighty Shop on East Burlington Street in March and began using the two ATM’s at different times. They allegedly used a special card that contained a code that overrode the ATMs’ functions and forced them to dispense all of their cash at once. The code on the card also alters the ATM ledger, showing the transactions as being legal and approved by a customer’s financial institution. The combined amount of stolen cash is listed at $13,080.
Chira and Villegas were captured by police when they arrived at another store that uses the same company’s ATM. Both men were charged with 1st Degree Theft, 1st Degree Fraudulent Practices, Conspiracy to Commit a Non-Forcible Felony, and Unauthorized Computer Access. All charges carry a maximum total sentence of 26 years.
Chira pleaded guilty to the theft charge, with the lesser charges being dismissed.
Villegas entered a guilty plea on Friday. Terms of that deal have not been released.