SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 27, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — The U.S. Department of Justice, District of Utah, has unsealed charges against three men accused of trying to destroy bank machines using fire and an explosive.
Charges have been brought against Brian Winters, 32, Christopher Izatt, 33, and Guillermo Cruz, 34, all of Salt Lake County. All counts are for Destruction and Attempted Destruction of Property Used in Interstate Commerce by Fire or Explosive, according to a statement released Friday by the Department of Justice.
Winters is charged in connection with a Jan. 7, 2018 attempt to damage or destroy an ATM located at a Goldenwest Credit Union in West Jordan.
Izatt and Cruz are charged with attempts to damage or destroy two ATMs -– an America First Credit Union ATM in Salt Lake City on Jan. 7, 2018, and a Chartway Federal Credit Union in West Jordan on Jan. 19.
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 Cruz 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.
