The FBI's director, Kash Patel, revealed to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that the agency successfully apprehended in Venezuela the last fugitive on its notorious Top Ten Most Wanted list, marking the completion of arrests for all individuals on that list.
"Over the weekend, we captured a criminal in Venezuela who had been on our most wanted list for years," Patel stated during his testimony. Although he did not immediately disclose the identity of the captured individual, he confirmed the person was en route to the United States.
It was Fox News that, relying on a confirmation from the FBI, identified the captured fugitive as Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre, also known by the aliases “Prometheus” and “El Ingeniero.”
Historic Capture: First Cyber Fugitive on FBI's List
Canelón Aguirre was added to the list on March 12, 2026, becoming the first "cyber fugitive" in the history of the list, which has existed since 1950 and has seen 541 individuals processed over more than seven decades.
The FBI accuses him of orchestrating an international conspiracy that sent teams into U.S. territory to steal millions from financial institutions using a technique called “ATM jackpotting,” involving malicious software to force ATM machines to dispense large amounts of cash.
Investigations indicate his network was active from January 2024 and executed over 117 attacks on financial institutions in the U.S., resulting in confirmed losses of at least $5.4 million.
Charges and Connections to Organized Crime
The charges against him include conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank robbery, intentional damage to computer systems, money laundering, and providing material support to terrorists.
This last charge is directly linked to the Tren de Aragua: the FBI claims that the money obtained through the jackpotting scheme was funneled into a money laundering network associated with this Venezuelan criminal organization, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States.
A federal arrest warrant was issued in December 2025 by a federal court in Nebraska, and the agency had offered up to one million dollars for information leading to his capture.
The historical leader of the Tren de Aragua, Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero,” was neutralized in a U.S. operation announced in June 2026, illustrating Washington's ongoing pressure against this criminal network.
Political Context and U.S. Pressure
Canelón Aguirre’s arrest in Venezuela occurred amid a unique political climate: following the detention of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces earlier this year, the Venezuelan government is now led by interim President Delcy Rodríguez. However, Patel did not disclose the specifics of the operation that led to the arrest.
During the announcement at the hearing, a notable moment occurred when Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, mentioned nine captures, prompting the FBI director to correct him by clarifying that the number had already reached ten. Patel highlighted this as one of the most significant achievements of his tenure leading the agency.
Key Questions About the FBI's Recent Capture
Who is Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre?
Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre, also known as "Prometheus" and "El Ingeniero," is a Venezuelan fugitive accused of leading a cybercriminal network involved in ATM jackpotting and other financial crimes.
What is ATM jackpotting?
ATM jackpotting is a cybercrime technique that involves using malicious software to manipulate ATMs to dispense large sums of cash illegally.
How is the Tren de Aragua linked to Canelón Aguirre?
The Tren de Aragua is alleged to have been the recipient of laundered money obtained through Canelón Aguirre's cybercriminal activities, linking the network to his financial crimes.