Los Angeles

Feds File Complaint Against Two Men for String of ATM Robberies

The pair stole almost half a million dollars in cash from three SoCal counties

Two men are accused of using a power saw to cut into ATMs and yanking the safe doors off with a pickup truck and a towrope in a nearly $500,000 spree across three counties, federal officials said Friday in announcing charges against the men.

James Costilow, 38, and David Silva Jr., 25, were arrested this week, and turned over to federal authorities Thursday, according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement released Friday.

Investigators believe the pair stole $462,093 in cash from ATMs, according to the criminal complaint.

Authorities believe Costilow and Silva played a role in possibly 15 ATM thefts or attempts at Chase Bank branches in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, officials said.

The pair were arrested after a failed ATM robbery Tuesday in Murrieta, police said.

Silva admitted to being involved in Tuesday’s attempted theft, knew the van used was stolen, and identified Costilow as his partner, officials said.

A magistrate judge on Friday ordered the pair held in jail without bond. The charge of attempted bank robbery has a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

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