Key Takeaways
- Three teens allegedly kidnapped a man at gunpoint and stole $4 million in Bitcoin and NFTs.
- One suspect is jailed on $4 million bail; another is under house arrest; a third has fled the country.
- The case is part of a rising trend of in-person attacks targeting Bitcoin holders.
Three teenagers are facing serious charges after allegedly kidnapping a Las Vegas man at gunpoint and stealing $4 million in Bitcoin and NFTs.
The victim had just returned from hosting a crypto event in downtown Las Vegas last November when he was abducted and forced into a vehicle.
Details of the crime
According to police, the suspects drove the man an hour into the desert and demanded passwords to his digital asset accounts.
The teens allegedly told the victim that if he didn’t comply, they…
… had his dad and would kill him.
A fourth individual may have participated remotely via speakerphone during the incident.
After being robbed, the victim reportedly walked five miles through the desert to find help at a gas station.
Legal proceedings
Two of the suspects, both 16-year-olds from Florida, are now facing charges including robbery, kidnapping, and extortion.
One is being held on $4 million bail; the other is under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
A third suspect has reportedly fled the country.
All are set to be tried as adults, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for June.
Expert commentary
Digital asset lawyer Sasha Hodder commented, “Crypto theft is evolving.
It’s not just social engineering or SIM swaps anymore.”
Broader context
The case adds to a growing trend of physical attacks targeting individuals in the Bitcoin space.
So far in 2025, there have been 21 such incidents globally, according to Jameson Lopp’s GitHub archive of offline crypto-related robberies.
