YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — Six men allegedly kidnapped a Chicago family and their nanny, holding them for five days and demanding a $15 million cryptocurrency ransom, according to a recently unsealed FBI affidavit. The Chicago Tribune report states that the suspects knocked on the victims’ door, pretending they had damaged the garage, before forcing their way inside with weapons.
The family and nanny were forced into a white Ford van and taken to an Airbnb rental about an hour away. The next day, they were moved again to another location.
Bitcoin and Ethereum Ransom Demands
The kidnappers demanded ransom in Bitcoin and Ethereum, threatening to kill the victims if the payment was not made. The victims were held captive for five days. During that time, one victim was able to contact his father on WeChat, alerting him to the kidnapping.
The victims were released on Nov. 1 and walked to a dry cleaner before using an Uber to reach a hospital. While $15 million in cryptocurrency was transferred, US officials have only accounted for $6 million so far.
FBI Investigation and Suspect Arrests in Chicago Case
Authorities charged six men on Dec. 13 in connection to the crypto ransom case. The only suspect arrested so far is Zehuan Wei, 34, who was taken into custody while attempting to re-enter the US from Mexico on Jan. 17.
The other five suspects—Fan Zhang, Huajing Yan, Shengnan Jiang, Shiqiang Lian, and Ye Cao—are believed to have fled to China after Wei’s arrest.
Surveillance and DNA Evidence Lead to Charges
Investigators collected evidence from multiple sources. They reviewed Airbnb surveillance footage, examined cryptocurrency transactions, and searched the white Ford van used in the kidnapping.
Authorities also took DNA samples from a white Chrysler Pacifica, rented by Wei on Oct. 29. US officials matched Cao’s photo from Customs and Border Protection records with surveillance footage. Driver’s license comparisons provided additional confirmation.
At least two victims identified some of the suspects in a photo lineup, strengthening the FBI investigation.
Similar Cases of Crypto-Related Kidnappings and Attacks
Crypto-related crimes have been on the rise, with several high-profile cases involving kidnappings, home invasions, and violent attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders.
In Florida, a man was convicted for orchestrating multiple crypto-related home invasions, where armed intruders tied up victims and forced them to transfer Bitcoin and other digital assets. The attackers specifically targeted individuals they believed held large cryptocurrency holdings.
A case in Kyiv, Ukraine, involved four men accused of kidnapping and killing a Bitcoin holder after stealing $170,000 worth of Bitcoin. Authorities reported that the attackers forced the victim to transfer approximately 7 million Ukrainian hryvnias (around 2.55 BTC) before strangling him and burying his body in a forest.
In another incident, a fake Uber driver in Scottsdale, Arizona, was arrested for stealing thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency from unsuspecting passengers. The suspect, Nuruhussein Hussein, allegedly picked up victims outside a hotel and manipulated them into handing over their phones. He then accessed their crypto wallets and transferred over $300,000 in digital assets. Hussein now faces charges of theft, fraud, and money laundering.
Criminals are increasingly targeting crypto holders with violent tactics to steal digital assets. Law enforcement continues to investigate and prosecute these cases as cryptocurrency use grows.
