Two men from Mason County, Illinois, are facing serious charges after being accused of taking part in a massive ATM burglary operation stretching across the country. The pair, 20-year-old Marol Rodriguez and 26-year-old Leandro Villegas, were arrested on Saturday in the small town of Abingdon.
The trouble started on February 20, when the Knox County Sheriff’s Office got a report about a break-in at a drive-up ATM in Abingdon. A large amount of cash had been stolen, and detectives immediately began investigating.
Thanks to surveillance footage, investigators quickly realized this wasn’t just a one-time crime. The video linked Rodriguez and Villegas to a string of ATM burglaries not just in Illinois but in several other states as well.
Once they tracked down the suspects’ vehicle, authorities moved fast. Rodriguez and Villegas were arrested and later charged with burglary, theft, and property damage by the Knox County State’s Attorney.
This case has drawn attention from law enforcement agencies across the region. The investigation involved the FBI’s Peoria office and several local sheriff’s departments from Fulton, Mason, Woodford, and LaSalle counties, along with the Havana Police Department. And it’s not over yet — officials say the investigation is still ongoing as they dig deeper into this widespread crime ring.
