In the U.S., cases of abduction for the purpose of extorting cryptocurrency have become more frequent. A recent incident occurred in Las Vegas, where three teenagers from Florida are accused of kidnapping a man and stealing $4 million in digital assets, including NFTs.
Details of the Attack
According to police, the victim had returned home in November last year after attending a crypto event in downtown Las Vegas. The three young men were waiting near his home. At gunpoint, they forced the man into a vehicle and drove him out of the city. After about an hour, they stopped in a remote area and demanded the passwords to all his wallets.
The man complied, saying the attackers threatened to kill him and claimed they were holding his father. Part of the conversation was conducted via speakerphone — investigators suspect a fourth accomplice was involved remotely.
After transferring the cryptocurrency, the victim walked approximately eight kilometers through the desert to reach the nearest gas station, where he called for help.
Criminal Prosecution
Two of the suspects — 16-year-old teenagers from Florida — are charged with kidnapping, robbery, and extortion. One is currently in custody with bail set at $4 million. The second has been placed under house arrest with an electronic monitoring bracelet. According to prosecutors, the third suspect has fled the country.
A court hearing is scheduled for June. Both defendants will be tried as adults.
“This Isn’t Phishing, This Is Kidnapping”
Digital asset attorney Sasha Hodder wrote on X that the Las Vegas case demonstrates a new level of threat.
“Crypto theft is no longer limited to SIM swaps and phishing. Now it's physical violence,” she stated.
Reports suggest that crypto-related abductions have increased globally. Recent incidents include:
- In Texas, three armed men broke into the home of OnlyFans streamer Kaitlyn Siragusa (Amouranth), demanding access to her crypto wallet.
- In Chicago, a family and their nanny were kidnapped for five days in an attempt to extort $15 million in crypto.
- In January, Ledger co-founder David Balland was abducted in France for ransom in crypto.
- In November 2024, WonderFi CEO Dean Skurka was forced into a vehicle in Toronto and released after transferring $1 million.
- In May, French police rescued the father of a crypto entrepreneur who was kidnapped for $7.8 million.
- In February, a crypto broker in the UK jumped from a balcony to escape criminals demanding €30,000.
Experts note that NFTs often become as desirable as cryptocurrencies in these schemes — they are harder to trace and easier to sell on secondary markets. In this Las Vegas case, non-fungible tokens were also stolen, though their exact value and associated collections have not been disclosed.
This post is for informational purposes only and is not an ad or investment advice. Please do your own research making any decisions.