A family of three and their nanny were reportedly held captive at gunpoint in Chicago by six men who demanded a $15 million cryptocurrency transfer. The alleged criminals forced their way into the family’s townhouse under the guise of a minor accident, then transported them to an Airbnb and later another house, holding them hostage for five days. The family was threatened with death unless they transferred Bitcoin, Ether, and other cryptocurrencies.
During their captivity, one of the victims managed to contact his father via WeChat, informing him of their situation. After five days, the captors released the family on November 1, allowing them to walk to a nearby dry cleaner where they called an Uber to reach a local hospital. Though it was claimed that $15 million worth of cryptocurrencies were transferred, only $6 million has been traced by U.S. authorities.
Six men have been charged in connection with the kidnapping. Among them, 34-year-old Zehuan Wei was apprehended while attempting to re-enter the United States from Mexico on January 17. The remaining suspects, Fan Zhang, Huajing Yan, Shengnan Jiang, Shiqiang Lian, and Ye Cao, are believed to have fled to China following Wei’s arrest.
In gathering evidence against the suspects, authorities examined surveillance footage, checked cryptocurrency wallets and inspected a van used during the crime. DNA samples were collected from Wei’s rented vehicle, and the perpetrator’s images were matched with official records to identify them. Victims were able to identify some kidnappers through a photo lineup, further aiding the investigation.
