Key Points
- A Chicago family was kidnapped and forced to transfer millions in cryptocurrency.
- Six men have been charged in connection with the crime, accused of stealing $15 million in cryptocurrency.
A family from Chicago and their nanny were held captive for five days in October. The kidnappers forced them to transfer millions in different cryptocurrencies before finally releasing them.
Six individuals, namely Zehuan Wei, Fan Zhang, Huajing Yan, Shengnan Jiang, Shiqiang Lian, and Ye Cao, have been charged for the crime. They are accused of stealing $15 million in various cryptocurrencies.
The Kidnapping Incident
The FBI reports that the incident took place in a Chicago townhouse. One of the suspects knocked on the door, claiming to have damaged the victim’s garage door. When the door was opened, armed men stormed in and took the family and their nanny hostage.
The victims were then transported in a van to an Airbnb in Forest Park. They were held there for a night before being moved to another location. The kidnappers demanded ransom in Bitcoin, Ether, and other cryptocurrencies, threatening to kill the victims if they did not comply. They also gained access to the victims’ cryptocurrency accounts and made transactions.
One victim was struck on the head with a gun, though he later suspected it might have been a prop. Despite the circumstances, he was able to contact his father via WeChat, informing him about their situation.
After five days, the victims were released on Nov. 1. Out of the $15 million stolen, $9 million is still missing, as determined by authorities.
Investigation and Arrests
Evidence for the case was collected by FBI agents from surveillance footage, rental vehicles, and forensic analysis. Security cameras at the Airbnb captured the kidnappers arriving in a white van and making phone calls. This footage was matched with the suspects using U.S. Customs and Border Protection records and state-issued driver’s licenses.
At least two victims were able to identify some of the suspects in a photo lineup.
Wei was the first suspect to be apprehended. He was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Jan. 17 as he tried to re-enter the country from Mexico at the Otay Mesa border crossing in California.
The FBI later found out that Jiang and Yan had boarded a flight from Tijuana, Mexico, to Beijing on Jan. 19, followed by Lian the next day. It is believed that some of the remaining suspects fled to China after Wei’s arrest.
On Dec. 13, all six men were formally charged with kidnapping.
Recent Crypto Kidnappings
As cryptocurrencies gain popularity, they are increasingly becoming targets for crime. Last month, David Balland, the co-founder of cryptocurrency hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger, was kidnapped and held for ransom.
In November, Dean Skurka, CEO of WonderFi, was abducted in Toronto and was released after a $1 million ransom was paid. Reports indicate that the suspects thought the victim had a significant amount of Bitcoin, which was not the case.
