New York City Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Transport Money Stolen from Skill Game Machines

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of New York, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to transport stolen money in interstate commerce, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Wander Paulino Pena, 29, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between April 2022 and June 2023, Pena participated in a conspiracy in which he and several other individuals from New York traveled to Pennsylvania and Virginia, broke into skill game machines across dozens of stores, stole the cash that was inside the machines, and then traveled back to New York with the cash. Through the conspiracy, Pena and his conspirators caused losses estimated at more than $500,000.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for September 4, 2025. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and multiple police departments throughout Pennsylvania and Virginia conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pena.