St. Louis Trio Charged in Kidnapping Plot Over Stolen Bitcoin Fortune
Three men from St. Louis have been charged in a plot to kidnap a cryptocurrency investor and force him to hand over hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of Bitcoin.
The indictment alleges that Sedric Louis, John Davis, and Martel Williams traveled to Connecticut between August 21st and 24th, 2024, where they surveilled the family of their intended target. They rented vehicles and were armed with air rifles and walkie-talkies, allegedly waiting for an opportunity to break in and demand a cryptocurrency transfer.
The plan fell apart when the men became concerned that they had been caught on home security cameras and lost communication with their co-conspirators. A second group from Florida then carried out a violent carjacking, attack, and kidnapping involving the intended target's parents, which has resulted in guilty pleas from six individuals.
The intended target was allegedly involved in the theft of around $245 million in Bitcoin, according to the Associated Press. If convicted, Louis, Davis, and Williams each face up to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery.