A 24-year-old Chilean national has been extradited to the United States to face federal charges for allegedly running an illegal online card shop that sold tens of thousands of stolen credit card numbers through Telegram channels.
Alex Rodrigo Valenzuela Monje, known online as "VAL4K," was arraigned on February 26, 2026, in Salt Lake City after being extradited from Chile the day prior. He was originally charged under a sealed indictment by a federal grand jury in August 2023, and entered a not-guilty plea to charges of trafficking in unauthorized access devices and unlawful transfer of means of identification.
The Operation
According to court documents, Valenzuela Monje ran illegal Telegram-based carding channels from at least May 2021 through August 2023. The channels, known as MacacoCC Collective and Novato Carding, offered stolen payment card data covering virtually all U.S. payment card brands.
For just one credit card brand alone, investigators allege he trafficked stolen data for approximately 26,528 cards. The dumps he sold typically included the full account number, card type, cardholder name, CVV/CVC, and expiration date.
Extradition Timeline
The path to extradition was a lengthy one. After the sealed indictment in August 2023, the U.S. submitted an extradition request to Chile. The Chilean Supreme Court initially approved it on April 22, 2025, but Valenzuela Monje filed multiple appeals. He was ultimately arrested on the U.S. extradition request on January 14, 2026, and physically transferred to U.S. custody on February 25, 2026.
Valenzuela Monje's next court appearance is scheduled for May 4, 2026, in Salt Lake City.
