Abdurrahim Jalal has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for detonating an explosive device at a Bank of America ATM and possessing illegal explosives at his home. The incident occurred on March 29, 2023, at the North DeKalb Mall in Decatur, Georgia. After the explosion, Jalal stole about $90,000 from the ATM vault and later used the stolen money during a gambling spree at a casino in North Carolina.
“Jalal used deadly explosives to steal tens of thousands of dollars and then shamelessly gambled with the loot at a casino,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Although Jalal refused to wager his own money at the gaming tables, he will now pay the price for his crimes.”
“Abdurrahim Jalal chose greed over the safety of our community when he used an explosive to steal money,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “Violence and destruction of property will never be tolerated, and the FBI and our partners will continue to work together to ensure criminals like Jalal are held accountable.”
“The successful prosecution of Abdurrahim Jalal is a testament to our unwavering commitment to public safety. We will not tolerate the use of explosives in criminal activity, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that those who threaten our communities are brought to justice said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.”
Authorities searched Jalal’s home after identifying him as a suspect and found eight pipe bombs that were either fully assembled or nearly completed.
On September 22, 2025, U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown sentenced Jalal, age 55 and from Decatur, Georgia, following his conviction for bank theft, use of an explosive to commit a felony, arson, and two counts of possession of an unregistered destructive device after a bench trial on June 25, 2025.
The investigation was conducted by several agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), DeKalb County Police Department, and DeKalb County Fire Rescue.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dash A. Cooper prosecuted the case.
For more information about this case or other matters handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.