Crypto Kidnapping: FBI Hunts $9M in Bitcoin After Chicago Hostage Drama

The FBI has recently unveiled a significant cryptocurrency kidnapping case in Chicago, involving a total of $15 million in transactions. In October 2023, a group of six individuals, along with three family members and their childcare provider, were held hostage for five days. The kidnappers forced their victims to transfer cryptocurrency funds, with authorities arresting one suspect, Zehuan Wei, while attempting to enter the United States.

Five other suspects remain at large, including Fan Zhang, Huajing Yan, Shengnan Jiang, Shiqiang Lian, and Ye Cao. The arrest of Wei led to the escape of certain suspects who used Mexico as their point of departure to reach China. The victims alerted authorities after one of the abducted people made contact with their father via WeChat. The abductors demanded payment through Bitcoin or Ethereum currency, threatening to harm the hostages if their demands were not met.

The FBI affidavit establishes that the kidnappers broke into the Chicago townhouse by force, taking the family against their will at gunpoint. A suspect approached the door, pretending his vehicle had struck the victim's garage door, before entering forcefully. A group of armed men then entered through an opened door, capturing and constraining the victims before forcing them into a white van. The victims were moved from the white van to Forest Park, where they were housed at an Airbnb rental for one full night before their release in Chicago on November 1.

The victims disclosed that their kidnappers provided food from various fast-food chains, including McDonald's, Subway, Culver's, and PF Chang's, throughout their abduction period. Law enforcement carefully examined surveillance footage and tracked information from customs, driver IDs, and rental agency records to strengthen their investigation. Authorities continue their search for $9 million worth of cryptocurrency since the robbery, while selected investigation costs have been uncovered.

The FBI remains committed to solving this case and bringing all suspects to legal proceedings. They continue their firm dedication to capturing the remaining suspects and recovering the missing cryptocurrency funds.