Pipe-Bomber Gambled Stolen $90K at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River, Gets 14 Years
A guy from Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for using a homemade pipe bomb to blow up an ATM in a mall and take $90,000 from the vault.
On March 29, 2023, at 3:11 a.m., Abdurrahim Jalal, 55, targeted the Bank of America ATM at North DeKalb Mall in Decatur, according to court records. Then, according to federal authorities, he "started a multiday gambling spree at a casino in North Carolina."
Jalal, a gardener, was found guilty of bank theft, use of an explosive to commit a felony, arson, and two counts of possession of an unregistered destructive device during a trial in June.
The Bombing's Course
Investigators who examined Bank of America surveillance tape saw a man with what seemed to be a can of bug repellent walk toward the ATM while sporting a hooded sweatshirt, cloth mask, and recognizable rectangular glasses. After attempting to spray one of the cameras, the suspect vanished from sight.
He later made a second appearance on camera while operating a black Lincoln SUV. He made a hole in the ATM after getting out of the car with what looked to be a pry bar.
Investigators suspect he then fed an accelerant into the machine by inserting two blue cables that extended from the truck. According to court documents, he then attached a metal pipe to the outside and left.
The bank's cameras ceased recording a few seconds later, which authorities said was probably when the device exploded.
Investigators were able to record the SUV's license plate using security footage from other local establishments, and it was discovered that the plate had been stolen from another car not long ago.
But after extending their search period, they eventually saw the same SUV on neighboring cameras, this time with Jalal's license plate. Eight more handmade pipe bombs were discovered by the FBI during their raid on his house. According to the prosecution, he intended to use them to rob further ATMs.
Spree at the Casino With Stolen $90,000
Following the heist, Jalal visited Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino multiple times, which is located close to Murphy, North Carolina, about two and a half hours' drive from Decatur. There, he traded stacks of $20 bills for casino chips. He was not charged with money laundering, despite the fact that this would be consistent with an attempt to launder the funds, according to court documents.
Human remains
Last but not least, according to Atlanta News First, an attorney phoned police following Jalal's arrest, claiming to be representing a young guy who had discovered human remains on his father's farm near Duluth, which is 35 miles northeast of Decatur.
Later, investigators verified that the remains belonged to a lady, although they have not revealed who she was or how she died. Jalal has not been charged with any crimes in connection with the case, and investigators have not provided an explanation for the relationship between the discovery and the subsequent search of his residence.
