Six men are facing expenses after allegedly kidnapping three family and a nanny from a Chicago townhouse in October 2024, forcing them to switch $15 million price of cryptocurrency sooner than releasing them days later terminate to a dry cleaner, in step with honest now not too lengthy ago unsealed court info.
As reported by Chicago Tribune, ravishing five-day kidnapping is printed in a 44-internet page FBI affidavit, which became as soon as made public closing week. The FBI’s investigation gathered evidence from diversified sources, including receipts, unused zip ties, and surveillance photographs from condo cars, a suburban Airbnb, and rapid-food restaurants. The solutions also detailed the use of cryptocurrency wallets that had been accessed during the crime.
The incident began when indubitably one of many suspects, claiming to dangle damaged the victims’ garage door, knocked on their townhouse door. As soon as the door opened, armed men stormed the house and seized the victims. The victims had been then transported to an Airbnb condo, where the abductors demanded cryptocurrency transfers below the specter of violence.
No topic being threatened and, in a single instance, struck with a firearm, the victims had been treated somewhat effectively during their captivity, receiving food from rapid-food restaurants. After five days, they had been released terminate to a dry cleaner, where they managed to put collectively for an Uber to comprehend them to a sanatorium.
Authorities like a flash launched an investigation, ensuing within the arrest of 1 suspect, Zehuan Wei, in January 2025. On the opposite hand, other suspects are believed to dangle fled to China, and as of now, $9 million of the stolen cryptocurrency stays unaccounted for. The FBI continues to trace the funds and coordinate with worldwide regulation enforcement to apprehend the final suspects.
