Chicago Family Kidnapped by Six Men, Forced to Transfer $15M in Cryptocurrency
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A Chicago kidnapping for a crypto ransom saw a family held for five days, with kidnappers demanding $15 million in cryptocurrency—an event now under investigation.
Kidnappers Demand a $15 Million Crypto Ransom
The news of the Chicago kidnapping broke on February 12, 2025, when a report from the Chicago Tribune revealed a chilling incident: a family of three and their nanny were kidnapped at gunpoint and held for five days.
The crime, which involved a $15 million crypto ransom, has left the local community in shock and law enforcement on high alert.
The FBI says 6 men kidnapped a family and their nanny from a Chicago townhouse and forced a transfer of $15 million in cryptocurrency before releasing them four days later near a dry cleaners
Crazy story out of federal court: https://t.co/u3hBF0T2p6 @rebeccapaigejo reporting— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) February 12, 2025
The ordeal began when men knocked on a family’s door, pretending to have damaged their garage.
Once inside, they forced the family and their nanny into a van, demanding $15 million in cryptocurrency. They threatened to kill the victims if they didn’t comply. Held hostage for five days, the family was moved between locations, enduring threats.
One victim was able to message a relative on WeChat, leading to their eventual release on November 1. They walked to a nearby dry cleaner and called an Uber to a local hospital for help, alerting authorities to the situation.
While the victims claimed $15 million worth of cryptocurrencies were transferred, U.S. officials have only accounted for $6 million.
The investigation into the Chicago kidnapping is still ongoing, with authorities having arrested one suspect, Zehuan Wei, who tried to return to the U.S. from Mexico in mid-January. The other five men are believed to have fled, possibly to China.
The FBI continues to follow leads, hoping to bring the remaining suspects to justice.
Crypto-related Crimes Highlight Growing Risks in the Digital Asset World
This crypto ransom case highlights the growing risks of digital currency crimes.
One such case involves a Canadian suspect charged for allegedly participating in a $65 million hack targeting crypto protocols KyberSwap and Indexed Finance.
The hacker exploited vulnerabilities in the protocols, stealing millions in crypto assets.
Authorities have identified the suspect and are investigating the method used to transfer the stolen funds.
The investigation highlights ongoing concerns over crypto crimes, as hacking and even traditional crime incidents continue to impact the industry.
