Six Men Charged for Kidnapping Family and Nanny to Steal $15 Million in Crypto
Six men allegedly kidnapped three family members and a babysitter from a Chicago townhouse, forcing them to transfer $15 million worth of cryptocurrency in October 2024, and then a few days, according to recent unsealed court records. After releasing them near the clean cleaners.
According to the Chicago Tribune The shocking five-day kidnapping was outlined in a 44-page FBI affidavit published last week. The FBI investigation has collected evidence from a variety of sources, including receipts, unused zipper tie, and surveillance videos of car rentals, suburban Airbnbs and fast food restaurants. The record also details the use of cryptocurrency wallets accessed during the crime.
The incident began when a suspect claimed to have damaged the victim’s garage door and knocked down their townhouse door. After the door opened, the armed men rushed into the house and grabbed the victim. The victims were then transported to Airbnb rent, and the kidnappers demanded a cryptocurrency transfer under the threat of violence.
Despite being threatened and in one instance the attacks of guns, the victim was treated relatively well during his imprisonment, receiving food from fast food restaurants. Five days later, they were released near the dry cleaner, where they managed to arrange for Uber to take it to the hospital.
Authorities quickly investigated, resulting in the arrest of a suspect, Zehuan Wei, in January 2025. However, other suspects are believed to have fled to China, and so far, there is no responsibility for the stolen cryptocurrency of $9 million. The FBI continues to track funds and coordinate with international law enforcement to arrest the remaining suspects.
