In a recent development, a Florida man has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of kidnapping and conspiracy linked to a Bitcoin heist investigation. The case revolves around the abduction of a couple in Danbury, Connecticut, and has garnered national attention for its potential ties to a $240 million crypto heist. Michael Rivas, one of the six suspects involved in the failed ransom plot targeting the couple’s son, admitted his role in the scheme during Thursday’s court proceedings. The sentencing guidelines suggest a prison term of 11 to 14 years, with the sentencing scheduled for May 13.
The incident on August 25 unfolded as the suspects, traveling in multiple vehicles, forcibly removed a couple from their Lamborghini SUV. The victims were subjected to brutal assaults, with the man being attacked with a baseball bat and the woman being dragged by her hair. Subsequently, they were bound with duct tape and forced into a van, with the intention of extorting a ransom from their son, who was believed to have access to a significant amount of cryptocurrency.
However, the plan quickly fell apart as witnesses alerted the local authorities. Four suspects were apprehended after abandoning their vehicles and fleeing on foot, while the remaining two were arrested at a nearby Airbnb rental property. Despite sustaining injuries, the couple survived the ordeal and received medical attention.
A Failed Ransom Plot and Brutal Assault
The August 25 incident began when the suspects, traveling in multiple vehicles, forced a couple out of their Lamborghini SUV. Authorities reported that the suspects assaulted the man with a baseball bat and dragged the woman by her hair before binding both victims with duct tape and forcing them into a van. The suspects intended to demand a ransom from the couple’s son, who they believed had access to substantial cryptocurrency holdings.
The plot unraveled quickly as witnesses alerted local police. Four of the six suspects were apprehended after abandoning their vehicles and fleeing on foot. The remaining two suspects were arrested later at a nearby Airbnb rental property. Although injured during the incident, the couple survived and received medical attention.
Crypto Heist Raises Suspicions
While authorities have not officially confirmed a direct connection between the Danbury kidnapping and a recent $240 million cryptocurrency theft, federal investigators are exploring potential links.
Just a week prior to the kidnapping, hackers posing as tech support for a cryptocurrency exchange managed to steal over 4,100 Bitcoin from a victim in Washington, D.C. Prosecutors allege that the thieves gained unauthorized access to the victim’s computer by falsely claiming a security breach.
Malone Lam and Jeandiel Serrano have been implicated in the cryptocurrency theft case. Both individuals allegedly used the stolen funds for lavish purchases, such as luxury cars, mansions, and high-end watches. Lam reportedly spent large sums at Los Angeles nightclubs and acquired multiple custom vehicles. Authorities estimate that over $100 million of the stolen funds remain unaccounted for.