Warrants issued for suspects in ATM robbery case

HANNAH COLLINS | The Advertiser

A group of individuals from Houston, Texas, suspected of orchestrating an ATM robbery in Bonifay have been identified by the Bonifay Police Department (BPD). The suspects, tracked through extensive investigative work, allegedly executed a heist, stealing $110,000 Wells Fargo ATM.

According to BPD, surveillance footage and digital tracking revealed their movements, including a stop at a Walmart where one suspect purchased shoes but stole a jacket—evidence investigators later used to link him to the crime.

According to BPD, the suspects initially scouted multiple Wells Fargo ATM locations but decided against robbing most of them. Eventually, they targeted an ATM in Bonifay, using a method to jam the machine and force a service call. When the technician arrived to fix the issue, the suspects ambushed him, gaining access to the machine and swiftly extracting the cash before fleeing.

Following the robbery, the suspects abandoned a Mercedes-Benz used in the crime in Panama City and fled back to Texas in a rented 2021 Nissan Kicks. BPD has gathered evidence, including surveillance images of the suspects posing with large amounts of cash.

According to Bonifay Police Chief, Johnny Whitaker, he spent weeks analyzing over 55,000 phone records and issuing multiple search warrants to pinpoint the suspects’ locations and activities. “At the end of the day it was a long, thorough investigation involving multiple pieces of evidence to say these are the people who committed this crime.” expressed Whitaker. Law enforcement officials in Texas are coordinating efforts to apprehend the individuals.

Warrants have been issued for the five suspects. Authorities are working to ensure that the remaining individuals are detained simultaneously to streamline extradition and reduce transportation costs. Officials hope to recover stolen cash, weapons, and other assets through seizures, which could help offset some of the financial losses sustained.

“This spanned several states and jurisdictions.” stated Whitaker “With input, evidence, and collaboration with neighboring agencies, Walton and Bay County Sheriff’s Offices, we were able to get all the pieces to puzzle.” 

There are several other robberies similar to this that span across many states, though authorities have not confirmed these are linked. Further updates will be provided as the case develops.