Tempe, AZ – A forgotten PS5 video game controller helped Tempe police crack the case of a multi-state ATM robbery spree, leading to federal indictments against three suspects.
The investigation began on Nov. 5, 2024, when three men targeted a Bank of America in Tempe around 10 a.m. They confronted two ATM technicians fixing a drive-thru machine, ordering them to step away before grabbing multiple cash cassettes—containers that store bills for ATM withdrawals. The suspects got away with approximately $279,000, taking off in a dark-colored car.
Surveillance footage captured key details about the getaway car. But detectives got an even bigger break when GPS tracking devices hidden in some of the stolen cash cassettes led them to a nearby apartment complex within an hour. There, they found the emptied cassettes—and the abandoned suspect vehicle.
Inside the car, investigators discovered an unexpected clue: a PS5 video game controller left behind. This seemingly small detail, along with surveillance footage and other recovered evidence, helped Tempe detectives identify three suspects: Maurice Brooks, Micah Lazaro, and Anthony Smith. Their investigation ultimately tied the men to a Houston-based crime syndicate specializing in ATM robberies.
By working closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement, investigators linked the trio to additional ATM heists in the Phoenix area and other cities, including Las Vegas; Tucson; Sacramento; and Olathe, Kansas.
The FBI arrested Brooks, Lazaro, and Smith in Houston. They remain in custody, two have been extradited and one is awaiting extradition to Arizona on federal charges:
- Bank Robbery (18 U.S. Code § 2113)
- Conspiracy to Commit Offense or Defraud the United States (18 U.S. Code § 371)
The investigation is ongoing.
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