Authorities in Chicago have charged six men in connection with the October 2024 kidnapping of a family and their nanny, during which the victims were forced to transfer millions in cryptocurrency.
The incident, detailed in an FBI affidavit, began when the suspects pretended to have damaged the victims’ garage door. Once inside, they used firearms to take control and forced the victims into a van.
The family was first taken to an Airbnb rental for one night before being moved to another location the next day.
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Over five days, the kidnappers allegedly threatened and forced them to transfer $15 million in Bitcoin
$97,346.48
, Ethereum
$2,709.76
, and other digital assets. However, US officials have confirmed that only $6 million has been successfully traced.
During their captivity, one of the victims managed to send a message to his father via WeChat, alerting him to the situation. They were eventually released on November 1, 2024.
Investigators gathered evidence from surveillance cameras, cryptocurrency wallets, and vehicles used in the crime. They obtained DNA samples from a Chrysler Pacifica rented by one of the suspects, Zehuan Wei.
Wei was arrested on January 17 when he attempted to return to the US from Mexico. The other suspects—Fan Zhang, Huajing Yan, Shengnan Jiang, Shiqiang Lian, and Ye Cao—remain at large. Some are believed to have fled to China after Wei’s arrest.
Meanwhile, a UK-based crypto broker escaped kidnappers in Spain but suffered serious injuries. What happened? Read the full story.
Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.
