US Sentences 12 in $3.5 Million Cryptocurrency Heist Involving Violent Home Invasions

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has sentenced 12 individuals for a series of violent home invasions aimed at stealing over $3.5 million in cryptocurrency. The group’s leader received 47 years in prison, while his accomplice was sentenced to 20 years. “The victims were held at gunpoint in their home,” the DOJ stated, adding that a man “was abducted, held hostage, and beaten, before the man was found by law enforcement 120 miles from his home.”

DOJ Sentences 12 for Cryptocurrency Robberies Across Multiple States

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday that 12 defendants were sentenced for their roles in a series of violent home invasions intended to steal cryptocurrency.

Among them, Remy Ra St Felix, 25, of West Palm Beach, Florida, was sentenced to 47 years in prison for leading the attacks. The crimes involved stealing over $3.5 million in digital assets. The sentences included numerous individuals responsible for the planning and execution of the robberies, which spanned across several states.

According to court records, St Felix and his accomplices used SIM swapping to gain control of victims’ phone numbers, enabling access to cryptocurrency accounts. After seizing control of these accounts, they launched home invasions, holding victims at gunpoint and binding them with plastic ties. The DOJ detailed:

They forced the man to provide access to his computer and cryptocurrency exchange account. Seemungal then remotely accessed the computer and stole over $150,000.00 worth of cryptocurrency.

“Conspirators laundered the funds through anonymity-enhanced cryptocurrencies, as well as ‘instant exchanges’ and decentralized finance platforms that did not conduct know-your-customer checks,” the Justice Department added.

The victims, including families in Florida and Texas, were held hostage for hours, beaten, and threatened. According to the Department of Justice:

In Delray Beach, the victims were held at gunpoint in their home. In Homestead, a man and his family were held at gunpoint in their home, and then the man was abducted, held hostage, and beaten, before the man was found by law enforcement 120 miles from his home.

Seemungal, a key conspirator, also faced significant punishment. “Seemungal was also sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $4,038,479.39 in restitution. Seemungal pleaded guilty on Dec. 19, 2023, for his role in the scheme to steal cryptocurrency by hacking victims’ cryptocurrency accounts as well as the home invasion and robbery scheme.” In total, nine co-conspirators received lengthy sentences for conspiracy to commit kidnapping, while other key players were punished for their involvement.

What do you think about the violent series of home invasions targeting cryptocurrency owners? Let us know in the comments section below.

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