{"id":847421,"date":"2025-05-11T09:12:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-11T14:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/11\/florida-teens-accused-of-kidnapping-crypto-investor-and-stealing-4m\/"},"modified":"2025-05-11T09:12:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T14:12:08","slug":"florida-teens-accused-of-kidnapping-crypto-investor-and-stealing-4m","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/11\/florida-teens-accused-of-kidnapping-crypto-investor-and-stealing-4m\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida teens accused of kidnapping crypto investor and stealing $4M"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-id=\"170007\" data-url=\"https:\/\/cryptobriefing.com\/florida-crypto-theft-case\/\">\n<section>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cryptobriefing.com\/regulation\/\" rel=\"tag\"><br \/>\n                    Regulation                <\/a>\n                    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/cryptobriefing.com\/\">Home<\/a><\/span> \u00bb <span><a href=\"https:\/\/cryptobriefing.com\/regulation\/\">Regulation<\/a><\/span> \u00bb <span aria-current=\"page\">Florida teens accused of kidnapping crypto investor and stealing $4M<\/span><\/span>        <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><span>by<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a data-author_id=\"29816\" href=\"https:\/\/cryptobriefing.com\/team\/vivian-nguyen\/\" rel=\"author\">Vivian Nguyen<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2025-05-10T16:09:47+00:00\"><br \/>\n                        May. 10, 2025                    <\/time>\n                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2>The victim was threatened with death unless he handed over his passwords.<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n            <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 850px)\" ><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" src=\"http:\/\/cryptobriefing.com\/1e594890-dd6f-4773-8bc0-bebdfa18d271.jpg\" alt=\"Florida teens accused of kidnapping a man and stealing $4M in crypto and NFTs\" title=\"http:\/\/cryptobriefing.com\/1e594890-dd6f-4773-8bc0-bebdfa18d271.jpg\">\n            <\/picture>\n        <\/section>\n<p>Photo: AI\/ Crypto Briefing<\/p>\n<section>\n<section>\n<h3>Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Three Florida teenagers are charged with kidnapping and stealing $4 million in crypto.<\/li>\n<li>The victim was forced into a vehicle and later walked miles to seek assistance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Share this article<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>        <?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><\/p>\n<p>Three teenagers are accused of abducting a man at gunpoint outside his Las Vegas apartment, stealing $4 million in crypto and NFTs before abandoning him in the remote Arizona desert, according to a new <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.8newsnow.com\/investigators\/florida-teens-kidnap-las-vegas-man-drive-him-to-arizona-desert-steal-4m-in-cryptocurrency-police\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\">report<\/a> from 8 News Now.<\/p>\n<p>The attack occurred on a November night last year, after the victim left a crypto event at a Downtown Las Vegas business.<\/p>\n<p>Upon returning to his apartment complex and parking his car, he was ambushed at gunpoint by three teenagers \u2014 later identified as Belal Ashraf, Austin Fletcher, and a third unnamed suspect.<\/p>\n<p>The assailants forced him into the back seat of their vehicle, placed a towel over his head, and warned him not to look at them. The suspects said that if he wanted to see another day, he had to cooperate. They threatened to kill the victim and his father if he didn\u2019t comply.<\/p>\n<p>Under duress, the victim was ordered to hand over passwords and grant access to his crypto accounts. Throughout the ordeal, the suspects appeared to be receiving instructions from someone on speakerphone \u2014 suggesting there was a fourth accomplice coordinating the attack remotely and directing the extortion in real time.<\/p>\n<p>The trio allegedly drove the victim to White Hills, Arizona, more than 70 miles from Las Vegas.<\/p>\n<p>After draining $4 million in crypto and NFTs from the man\u2019s accounts, the suspects dumped him in the desert and fled. The victim managed to walk five miles to a gas station, where he reached out for help.<\/p>\n<h2>Bail set at $4 million<\/h2>\n<p>Investigators tracked a suspect vehicle making its way from Florida to Nevada, stopping at key locations, including the victim\u2019s apartment complex.<\/p>\n<p>In Mississippi, police recovered a firearm tied to a suspect\u2019s family member that matched a weapon featured in one of the teenagers\u2019 social media posts.<\/p>\n<p>Ashraf and Fletcher, both 16 and from Pasco County, Florida, now face charges of robbery, kidnapping, and extortion alongside the third, unidentified teen suspect, who, according to prosecutors, has left the US.<\/p>\n<p>Documents further revealed that the teens had a record of disruptive behavior at a Florida high school, including swearing in multiple languages and physically confronting school staff.<\/p>\n<p>At Fletcher\u2019s probable cause hearing, Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Daniel Westmeyer set bail at $4 million. Ashraf was granted release under electronic monitoring.<\/p>\n<p><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-banner mrec-in-article\">\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-4 ai-track\" data-ai=\"WzQsIiIsIk1SRUMgSW4tYXJ0aWNsZSAtIDMwMHgyNTAiLCIiLDFd\" style=\"margin: 8px 0; clear: both; width: 300px; height: 250px;\">\n<div class=\"ai-rotate ai-unprocessed\" data-shares=\"WzEwMF0=\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ai-rotate-option\" style=\"visibility: hidden;\" data-index=\"1\" data-name=\"U2V2aW8=\">\n<div style=\"width: 300px; height: 250px\">\n<script type=\"rocketlazyloadscript\" async data-rocket-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.adx.ws\/scripts\/loader.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"sevioads\" data-zone=\"e895191b-6d01-4021-992d-173ebfdf2d63\"><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"rocketlazyloadscript\">\n    window.sevioads = window.sevioads || [];\n    var sevioads_preferences = [];\n    sevioads_preferences[0] = {};\n    sevioads_preferences[0].zone = \"e895191b-6d01-4021-992d-173ebfdf2d63\";\n    sevioads_preferences[0].adType = \"banner\";\n    sevioads_preferences[0].inventoryId = \"c5700508-581b-472c-8fdd-a931cdbfc8e1\";\n    sevioads_preferences[0].accountId = \"1e47efc1-ec2d-4fca-a8b9-354e249e5095\";\n    sevioads.push(sevioads_preferences);\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<h2>Crypto investors are being targeted for kidnapping and robbery<\/h2>\n<p>A growing wave of kidnappings and extortion attempts is targeting individuals linked to crypto, like investors, entrepreneurs, and public figures.<\/p>\n<p>Texas-based streamer Amouranth was the victim of a home invasion in March during which armed suspects reportedly <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Amouranth\/status\/1896600968797561248\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\">held her at gunpoint<\/a> and demanded access to her crypto holdings. Four individuals were later arrested in connection with the attack.<\/p>\n<p>Outside of the US, recent incidents have escalated to alarming levels of physical violence. So far this year, there have been three crypto-related kidnapping cases in France.<\/p>\n<p>Victims have included <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cryptobriefing.com\/ledger-co-founder-david-balland-kidnapped\/\" rel=\"\">Ledger co-founder David Balland<\/a> and, most recently, the father of a Paris-based crypto entrepreneur who was abducted earlier this month, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leparisien.fr\/faits-divers\/un-entrepreneur-dans-les-cryptomonnaies-enleve-la-victime-retrouvee-avec-un-doigt-en-moins-03-05-2025-573S5T4AGNFEXPLDVX52EX3OYA.php\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\">per Le Parisien<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Law enforcement agencies across multiple countries are sounding the alarm about this rising threat. Officials warn that organized criminal groups are increasingly targeting individuals known to hold significant digital assets and urge enhanced personal security protocols.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<section class=\"article-share\">\n<p>Share this article<\/p>\n<div class=\"social-icons\">\n          <button class=\"social-icon share\" data-href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Florida+teens+accused+of+kidnapping+crypto+investor+and+stealing+%244M&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fcryptobriefing.com%2Fflorida-crypto-theft-case%2F&#038;via=crypto_briefing\" aria-label=\"Share on x\"><br \/>\n        <?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?><br \/>\n                <svg width=\"40px\" height=\"40px\" viewBox=\"0 0 40 40\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\n                <g id=\"surface1\">\n                <path style=\" stroke:none;fill-rule:nonzero;fill:rgb(0%,0%,0%);fill-opacity:1;\" d=\"M 17.867188 0.148438 C 10.839844 0.878906 4.558594 5.507812 1.707031 12.054688 C -0.132812 16.28125 -0.441406 21.148438 0.867188 25.625 C 2.480469 31.214844 6.652344 35.933594 12.054688 38.292969 C 16.28125 40.132812 21.148438 40.4375 25.628906 39.132812 C 32.332031 37.199219 37.613281 31.695312 39.347656 24.851562 C 42.054688 14.132812 35.414062 3.171875 24.667969 0.613281 C 22.304688 0.0546875 20.226562 -0.09375 17.867188 0.148438 Z M 18.132812 12.535156 C 19.839844 14.800781 21.28125 16.667969 21.332031 16.667969 C 21.386719 16.667969 23.160156 14.800781 25.253906 12.535156 L 29.078125 8.398438 L 31.253906 8.398438 L 30.785156 8.894531 C 30.519531 9.171875 28.785156 11.054688 26.933594 13.066406 C 25.078125 15.078125 23.265625 17.039062 22.90625 17.398438 L 22.265625 18.078125 L 27.265625 24.734375 C 30.011719 28.398438 32.265625 31.441406 32.265625 31.492188 C 32.265625 31.558594 30.628906 31.601562 28.640625 31.601562 L 25 31.585938 L 21.613281 27.054688 C 19.28125 23.921875 18.1875 22.574219 18.078125 22.652344 C 18 22.71875 16.105469 24.761719 13.867188 27.1875 L 9.800781 31.601562 L 8.773438 31.601562 C 8.199219 31.601562 7.734375 31.574219 7.734375 31.535156 C 7.734375 31.492188 9.851562 29.171875 12.441406 26.386719 C 15.011719 23.601562 17.148438 21.265625 17.171875 21.226562 C 17.1875 21.171875 15.066406 18.28125 12.464844 14.800781 C 9.867188 11.332031 7.734375 8.464844 7.734375 8.441406 C 7.734375 8.414062 9.371094 8.398438 11.386719 8.398438 L 15.039062 8.398438 Z M 18.132812 12.535156 \" \/>\n                <path style=\" stroke:none;fill-rule:nonzero;fill:rgb(0%,0%,0%);fill-opacity:1;\" d=\"M 11.027344 10.1875 C 11.082031 10.28125 14.441406 14.785156 18.464844 20.171875 L 25.800781 29.988281 L 27.441406 30 C 28.453125 30 29.066406 29.945312 29.039062 29.867188 C 29.027344 29.800781 25.679688 25.292969 21.628906 19.867188 L 14.238281 10 L 12.585938 10 C 11.214844 10 10.933594 10.027344 11.027344 10.1875 Z M 11.027344 10.1875 \" \/>\n                <\/g>\n                <\/svg>      <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cryptobriefing.com\/florida-crypto-theft-case\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Vivian Nguyen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Regulation Home \u00bb Regulation \u00bb Florida teens accused of kidnapping crypto investor and stealing $4M by Vivian Nguyen May. 10, 2025 The victim was threatened with death unless he handed over his passwords. Photo: AI\/ Crypto Briefing Key Takeaways Three Florida teenagers are charged with kidnapping and stealing $4 million in crypto. The victim was<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":847422,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1418,4549],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-847421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-florida","category-teens"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/847421","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=847421"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/847421\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/847422"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=847421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=847421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=847421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}