Three suspects linked to a series of ATM robberies spanning numerous states were apprehended following a traffic stop in Santa Rosa County. The arrests happened on December 18, 2024, when officers stopped a 2024 Nissan Altima on Highway 90 in Pace for a window tint violation.The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office linked the offenders, identified as 18-year-old Andrew Bishop, 20-year-old Dylon Thomas, and 19-year-old Brad Fokam from Houston, Texas, to ATM burglaries in southeastern states. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office linked the suspects to an organized crime ring based in Texas, and recorded similar crimes in Mississippi, Alabama, and Pensacola earlier in December. During the car search, deputies discovered a significant amount of fentanyl powder, 24 baggies of synthetic cannabinoids (Spice), marijuana, and ATM burglary tools. The source added that Fokam and Thomas first gave law authorities phony identities and birth dates. The charges against the individuals include trafficking fentanyl, possessing synthetic drugs for sale, providing false identification to law officers, and possessing a controlled substance. According to the press release, their strategy comprised disabling ATMs with superglue-coated debit cards, ambushing technicians, and stealing cash.Sheriff Johnson claimed joy in apprehending the individuals while warning against bringing criminality to Santa Rosa County. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities advise anyone who discovers a glued card in an ATM slot to exit immediately and notify law enforcement.
