Ex-LAPD Officer Gets Life Sentence for Bitcoin Heist
A former Los Angeles police officer has been sentenced to life plus 15 years in prison for his role in a home invasion robbery that netted $350,000 worth of Bitcoin. Eric Halem, 38, was found guilty in March of kidnapping and robbery after a two-week trial. The incident occurred on December 28, 2024, when Halem and three other men entered an apartment in Koreatown, handcuffed the victims, and stole funds from their cryptocurrency account. The men posed as police officers, wearing vests with fake badges, and used an access code to gain entry.
The victims, including a 17-year-old who had built his Bitcoin holdings partly through scamming others, testified that they were threatened with violence during the robbery. Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo rejected Halem's bid for a new trial, calling him 'sheer and utter greed.' Halem is eligible for parole after seven years.