Six males are accused of kidnapping three relations and their nanny from a Chicago townhouse in October 2024 in alternate for a crypto-ransom. Earlier than being freed subsequent to a dry cleaners, the victims had been allegedly stored for 5 days and compelled into handing over virtually $15 million in Bitcoin (BTC) holdings.
Crypto Kidnapping Case Unfolds
From a 44-page FBI affidavit unsealed final week, the specifics of the kidnapping have surfaced from a convoluted community of proof gathered by regulation enforcement together with receipts, unused zip ties, and surveillance footage from rental vehicles and fast-food eating places.
Zehuan Wei, one of many accused, 34-year-old, was caught on January 17 at a California border submit making an attempt to cross into the US from Mexico. He has since made his first courtroom look in California.
5 different males – Fan Zhang, Huajing Yan, Shengnan Jiang, Shiqiang Lian and Ye Cao – are accused of kidnapping together with Wei. A few of these people reportedly left to return to China shortly after Wei’s arrest.
The victims, known as “Victims A-D” within the affidavit, had been first alerted to their father’s issues through a WeChat message on October 27, indicating that that they had been taken hostage. The abductors demanded ransom funds in Bitcoin or Ethereum, two of the most well-liked crypto belongings.
$9 Million Nonetheless Lacking
The occasion began when one of many claimed kidnappers knocked on the household’s door claiming to have inadvertently wrecked their storage. Opening the door, a number of armed guys shoved their manner in and grabbed the relations. The boy mentioned he was snatched instantly from the bathe.
As soon as in custody, the abductors pressured the boy to make extra Bitcoin purchases. They repeatedly drove him round Chicago, insisting on entry to his data. The group made round $15 million in Bitcoin belongings throughout their captivity.
After being pushed in a white Ford van to an Airbnb in Forest Park, the victims stayed one night time earlier than being pushed someplace. Lastly discharged on November 1, they walked to a neighboring dry cleaners calling for an Uber to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Amazingly, the son mentioned he was handled actually properly all through his imprisonment despite the fact that he claimed he was hit on the pinnacle with a gun—suspected to be pretend.
Alleged kidnappers arriving within the white van and utilizing cell telephones had been seen on Airbnb surveillance cameras. With this video, the FBI discovered at the least six suspects and compiled additional information connecting them to the crime—together with DNA samples and private belongings found within the rental vehicles.
Authorities adopted suspects’ journey patterns and located Wei and Zhang had flown from Chicago to Las Vegas on November 1. Stated to have left for Los Angeles on the identical day had been Jiang, Yan, Lian, and Cao.
Afterward, the FBI verified that Lian adopted swimsuit the following morning and Jiang and Yan checked on a flight from Tijuana, Mexico, to Beijing.
As of now, roughly $9 million of the crypto belongings stays unaccounted for, elevating questions concerning the whereabouts of the remaining funds.
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