Three teenagers have been accused of kidnapping a man at gunpoint after he returned from hosting a crypto-related event in downtown Las Vegas.
According to police reports, the incident occurred in November 2024 but was revealed in a May 10 report by 8 News Now.
After returning to his apartment, the victim was ambushed at gunpoint by three teenagers from Florida: Belal Ashraf, Austin Fletcher, and a third unnamed suspect.
The assailants forced him into their vehicle, covered his head with a towel, and warned him not to look at them. They drove him over 70 miles to a remote desert near White Hills, Arizona.
During the drive, the victim was threatened with death and told that his father would be killed if he didn’t comply.
Held at Gunpoint and Threatened With Death for Passwords
Once in the desert, the man was coerced at gunpoint to hand over passwords to his crypto wallets and NFT accounts.
The teens reportedly threatened his life, telling him to comply if he wanted to “live to see another day,” and even claimed they had his father and would kill him.
Police also noted that a fourth person may have been involved, possibly giving instructions over speakerphone during the crime.
The victim, after being robbed of $4 million worth of digital assets, was left stranded. He walked five miles through the desert to reach a gas station, where he contacted a friend for help.
Authorities have charged two 16-year-old boys from Florida with kidnapping, robbery, and extortion. One of them is currently in jail on $4 million bail, while the other has been released to house arrest with an ankle monitor.
Prosecutors stated that a third suspect involved in the kidnapping has since left the country. All suspects are expected to be tried as adults, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for June.
The case has drawn attention from the cryptocurrency community. Digital asset attorney Sasha Hodder commented on the case, indicating how crypto theft tactics are evolving: “It’s not just social engineering or SIM swaps anymore.”
Growing Concerns Over Physical Security in Crypto Industry
This incident is part of a concerning trend where individuals in the cryptocurrency industry are targeted for their digital wealth.
The Las Vegas kidnapping shows a growing trend of criminals increasingly targeting crypto holders in the real world. As digital assets gain value and attention, physical threats like kidnappings and extortion are becoming more common.
Earlier this month in Paris, the father of a crypto entrepreneur was rescued after being held for several days in a €7 million ransom plot.
In a high-profile case from earlier this year, David Balland, co-founder of French hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger, was rescued after being kidnapped in central France on January 21.
Balland was taken from his home and held for ransom, with kidnappers demanding a large payment in cryptocurrency.
Crypto security expert Jameson Lopp has documented dozens of such attacks from 2014. His GitHub list shows 21 in-person incidents this year, with 28 in 2024 and 17 in 2023.
These cases show that crypto theft is no longer limited to hacks and online scams; personal safety is now a significant concern for those in the industry.
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