Six Men Charged for Kidnapping, Extorting $15M Crypto Ransom

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently unsealed court documents detailing a complex kidnapping case involving a substantial sum of approximately $15 million in crypto.

The incident, which transpired in October 2023 in Chicago, involved the abduction of a family of three and their nanny, ultimately leading to a multi-jurisdictional investigation spanning the United States and China.

FBI Unsealed Kidnapping Investigation

The 44-page FBI affidavit, unsealed last week, meticulously outlines the events of the five-day ordeal. Six individuals stand accused of the crime: Zehuan Wei, Fan Zhang, Huajing Yan, Shengnan Jiang, Shiqiang Lian, and Ye Cao.

Their alleged actions involved the forceful abduction of the victims from their Chicago townhouse. The perpetrators, after gaining entry under the pretense of a damaged garage door, swiftly overpowered the family and their nanny at gunpoint.

The affidavit details the kidnappers’ subsequent demands for a substantial ransom in Bitcoin and Ethereum, two prominent cryptocurrencies. Moreover, the victims were subjected to repeated forced crypto transactions, culminating in the transfer of approximately $15 million in digital assets.

Following their release, the victims sought medical attention at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Their accounts, corroborated by forensic evidence, provide a detailed narrative of their ordeal, including the perpetrators’ use of both Mandarin and Spanish.

Surveillance Coverage

The FBI investigation leveraged a wide array of investigative techniques. Analysis of surveillance footage from the Airbnb, coupled with the examination of rental car records, revealed crucial details about the suspects’ movements and actions. Physical evidence, such as unused zip ties, receipts from various fast-food restaurants (McDonald’s, Culver’s, Subway, and PF Chang’s), and other items recovered from rental vehicles, provided vital links connecting the suspects to the crime scene.

Furthermore, the comparison of surveillance footage with driver’s licenses and passport photographs aided in the identification of the alleged perpetrators. Witness statements, particularly the identification of several suspects in a photo array, played a critical role in solidifying the case.

The investigation revealed a coordinated effort among the suspects. While Zehuan Wei was apprehended in January 2024 at a California border crossing while attempting to enter the U.S. from Mexico, subsequent investigations indicated that several other suspects had fled to China following Wei’s arrest.

Nonetheless, while the FBI successfully recovered some evidence and made several arrests, approximately $9 million in cryptocurrency remains unaccounted for.