An arrest has been made and another suspect has resolved charges following a multi-month, multi-agency investigation into a cyber scheme involving automated teller machines in Maine. 

On February 21, 2025, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Damariscotta Police Departments responded to various locations to investigate suspicious activity at ATMs within their stores. Investigators found from speaking with owners of the ATMs that they were alerted to a widespread cyberattack. That attack allowed individuals to withdraw money from the ATMs; while having the appearance of conducting normal business, this is commonly referred to as a type of ATM jackpotting.   

A vehicle was identified and found to be captured on a Waldo County license plate reader. Through the investigation, investigators identified suspects as Nurmukhammad Rakhmonda, 26, of Tajikistan, Milad Avazdavani AKA Melech Vasquez, 36, of Iran, and Firdavs Jonmahmadovic Radzhabov, 35, of Tajikistan, as the individuals responsible for making withdrawals from ATMs in Maine in excess of $10,000.

March 13, 2025, Melech was arrested in Charleston, South Carolina, booking fingerprints identified him as Milad, he was found to be using a false identity.

Nurmukhammad was arrested in Miami, Florida on March 30, 2025, and was extradited to Two Bridges Jail where he has been held since his arrest. Nurmukhammad was charged with felony theft and criminal conspiracy in Lincoln County, felony theft in Hancock County misdemeanor theft in Waldo County.

Nurmukhammad resolved his Maine cases on November 5, 2025, agreeing to terms of a differed disposition which includes paying restitution to the victims totaling $38,480. If terms of the differed disposition are met it will result in misdemeanor theft convictions. Nurmukhammad will be extradited back to Florida where he faces unrelated theft charges.

In 2016 Milad was convicted in Florida for his role in attacking the American Airline systems and stealing more than $260,000 in airline miles. (Ref: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article74727227.html)

Milad and Firdavs have not been apprehended, and their locations are unknown, any information regarding their locations can be forwarded to Det. Jared Mitkus 207-882-7332 or jmitkus@lincolnso.me.

People can also provide information regarding this event via our tip411 line anonymously by texting the keyword LTIP and your tip to 847411.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, US Customs and Border Protection, Damariscotta Police, Waldoboro Police, Thomaston Police, Ellsworth Police, Bangor Police, Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, Waldo County Sheriff’s Office, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Maine State Police, New York City Police, Miami-Dade Police, Charleston South Carolina Police.