Six men kidnapped a Chicago family and their nanny in October 2024, forcing them to transfer $15 million in crypto before releasing them.
Six men are being charged with allegedly taking three family members and a nanny from a home in Chicago in October 2024 and forcing the owners to send $15 million in cryptocurrency. The men then allegedly freed the hostages near a dry cleaner a few days later.
Based on what the Chicago Tribune said, the shocking five-day experience is described in a 44-page FBI document that came out last week. The FBI used receipts, zip ties that had not been used, and security footage from fast food restaurants, rental cars, and an Airbnb to build their case.
The statement also shows that the kidnappers used cryptocurrency wallets while they were committing the crime.
At first, the suspect knocked on the victims’ townhouse door while claiming to have broken their garage door. When the door was opened, armed men rushed in and took the victims with them, taking them to an Airbnb apartment. Threats of harm were used by the kidnappers to get them to send cryptocurrency.
Even though they were attacked and one was hit with a gun, the prisoners were treated pretty well and given fast food. After five days, they were let go near a dry cleaner and told to call an Uber to get to the hospital.
The police started their investigation right away and arrested suspect Zehuan Wei in January 2025. But some of the suspects are thought to have run away to China, and $9 million worth of cryptocurrency that was stolen is still missing.
The FBI is constantly looking for the money and working with law enforcement from other countries to catch the rest of the suspects.
