Terror struck a Chicago family when six armed men stormed their home in October 2024, leading to a five-day cryptocurrency nightmare. The criminals, who gained entry by pretending to have damaged the garage door, forced the family and their nanny into a van at gunpoint.
Talk about a home invasion gone crypto.
The kidnappers, clearly tech-savvy thugs, demanded $15 million in various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. They didn’t mess around – threats of execution came with their demands. The victims were forced to transfer funds from their personal crypto accounts. The captors used sophisticated methods to gain access to crypto accounts through forced cooperation.
While $15 million was allegedly transferred, authorities have only traced $6 million. The rest? Vanished into the digital ether.
During their five-day ordeal, the family endured a terrifying game of musical houses, first held at an Airbnb before being moved to another location. One victim took a hit to the head with what was believed to be a fake gun.
Eventually, a victim managed to contact their father through WeChat. When finally released on November 1, the family sought help at a nearby dry cleaner and took an Uber to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Because nothing says “just kidnapped” like catching a ride-share to the ER.
The FBI’s investigation led to charges against six men on December 13, 2024. One suspect, Zehuan Wei, was nabbed at the U.S.-Mexico border on January 17, 2025.
His accomplices – Fan Zhang, Huajing Yan, Shengnan Jiang, Shiqiang Lian, and Ye Cao – are believed to have fled to China after Wei’s arrest. Authorities pieced together the case using surveillance footage, rental vehicle records, and DNA evidence from a white Chrysler Pacifica.
The case highlights a disturbing trend in crypto-related kidnappings. With $9 million still unaccounted for and several suspects on the run, it’s a stark reminder that the crypto world isn’t all lambos and moon shots.
Sometimes it’s vans, ransoms, and international manhunts.
