Man Who Made Explosives Used In Philly ATM Attacks Gets Prison

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man was sentenced to more than 9 years in prison for making and selling explosives used to blow up ATMs in 2020.

United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said David Perez, 37, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 110 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $75,218.40 in restitution to the Philadelphia School District and $43,500 in restitution to Wells Fargo Bank.

Perez was convicted of manufacturing illegal explosive devices for several years before he was arrested in June 2021.

Devices consistent with those made by Perez were found at numerous post-blast scenes, including at multiple scenes where explosive devices were used to attempt to access ATMs in the summer and fall of 2020, authorities said.

Perez admitted to using some of his homemade illegal explosive devices on July 4, 2020 in the courtyard of the Honorable Luis Munoz-Marin Elementary School in Philadelphia.

Use of these devices caused extensive damage to property inside and outside the school, and resulted in damage to numerous windows.

Repairs to the school cost more than $75,000.

Upon his arrest, Perez was found in possession of multiple firearms and distribution-level quantities of PCP in his home.

He also participated in a bank fraud conspiracy, which led to a loss of $43,500 to Wells Fargo Bank, authorities said.