WEST LAFAYETTE, IN — Jacoby Zachery Batiste, 24, and Dexter Robinson, 25, both of Houston, Texas, were arrested on May 21 and are currently awaiting extradition to Tippecanoe County to stand trial for their involvement in the theft of a Purdue Federal Credit Union ATM on January 23, prosecutors confirmed.
The two men are part of a six-person team accused of stealing nearly $135,000 from the ATM located in the 1500 block of Win Hentschel Boulevard in West Lafayette. Their arrest follows a police investigation that ties the group to several similar heists across the Midwest, using a consistent method of operation.
According to court documents, the team rented vehicles in Texas, drove to targeted Midwestern cities, and conducted surveillance on the chosen ATMs. The group then obtained tools to break into the machines and used stolen trucks, often Ford F-350s, to rip the ATMs from their mountings.
In the West Lafayette incident, the team allegedly used a stolen pickup truck to remove the ATM, which they then transported to a separate location to make their escape. The abandoned truck was later found near McClure Avenue and Kalberer Road, and the cash was recovered.
After the theft, police learned that some of the suspects had stayed in an AirBnB in Lafayette. The team was subsequently tracked down in Splendora, Texas, where they were stopped by police. A search of their vehicle revealed more than $12,000 in cash, further linking them to the West Lafayette crime.
The suspects face multiple charges, including theft of nearly $135,000 from the Purdue Federal Credit Union, corrupt business influence, and criminal mischief for the damage caused to both the stolen truck and the ATM equipment. Additionally, charges include theft of a Ford F-350 truck used in the crime and theft of the insurance deductible related to the ATM’s loss.
Prosecutors believe the team’s activities are connected to a larger criminal gang, and they are pursuing sentence-enhancing charges that could significantly increase their potential penalties if convicted.
