Two Florida Teens Face 22 Felony Charges Over $4 Million Crypto Kidnapping
Two 16-year-olds from Florida are facing serious adult felony charges after allegedly abducting a man at gunpoint in Las Vegas and stealing $4 million in cryptocurrency and NFTs, according to local media reports.
Crypto Kidnapping in the Desert : $4 Million Crypto Kidnapping
The teenagers, both from Pasco County, Florida, are accused of kidnapping a man in November 2024 after he attended a crypto-related business event in Downtown Las Vegas.
According to prosecutors, the suspects drove the victim across the Arizona border to a remote desert location, where they demanded his passwords to access his digital wallets.
A third teenager, also charged in the case, is believed to have fled the country, officials confirmed.
After the ordeal, the victim reportedly walked five miles through the desert to reach a gas station, where he called a friend for help.
High-Profile Legal Defense
Court records show that one of the teens has hired Ross C. Goodman, a well-known Las Vegas defense attorney, while the other is being represented by a public defender.
Goodman’s office has not issued a public statement on the case.
The two teens each face 11 felony charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and grand larceny.
Rise in Violent Crypto Crimes
This case highlights a concerning rise in violent crimes targeting cryptocurrency investors.
In January 2024, criminals kidnapped a Ledger hardware wallet co-founder from his home in France, torturing him in an attempt to access his crypto holdings.
More recently, kidnappers in France demanded a €5 million ransom for the father of a crypto millionaire, though police intervened and made arrests before the ransom was paid.
Elsewhere, a Canadian man was forced into hiding after being mistakenly identified as a billionaire Bitcoin investor.
He later revealed his actual holdings were worth around $100,000.
In the U.S., popular Twitch streamer Amouranth reported fending off a home invasion in March 2024, when attackers allegedly sought access to her crypto assets.
Similar incidents have also been reported this year in the Philippines, Pakistan, and other countries, as criminals increasingly target high-net-worth individuals connected to the digital asset space.
A Growing Threat to Crypto Holders
As cryptocurrencies continue to grow in value and popularity, law enforcement agencies warn that investors should be mindful of both digital and physical security risks.
Officials advise keeping personal financial details private and avoiding publicly disclosing large holdings or crypto-related business ventures without proper security precautions.
