Six men are facing charges after allegedly kidnapping three family members and a nanny from a Chicago townhouse in October 2024, forcing them to transfer $15 million worth of cryptocurrency before releasing them days later near a dry cleaner, according to recently unsealed court records.
As reported by Chicago Tribune, shocking five-day kidnapping is outlined in a 44-page FBI affidavit, which was made public last week. The FBI’s investigation gathered evidence from various sources, including receipts, unused zip ties, and surveillance footage from rental cars, a suburban Airbnb, and fast-food restaurants. The records also detailed the use of cryptocurrency wallets that were accessed during the crime.
The incident began when one of the suspects, claiming to have damaged the victims’ garage door, knocked on their townhouse door. As soon as the door opened, armed men stormed the house and seized the victims. The victims were then transported to an Airbnb rental, where the kidnappers demanded cryptocurrency transfers under the threat of violence.
Despite being threatened and, in one instance, struck with a firearm, the victims were treated relatively well during their captivity, receiving food from fast-food restaurants. After five days, they were released near a dry cleaner, where they managed to arrange for an Uber to take them to a hospital.
Authorities quickly launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of one suspect, Zehuan Wei, in January 2025. However, other suspects are believed to have fled to China, and as of now, $9 million of the stolen cryptocurrency remains unaccounted for. The FBI continues to track the funds and coordinate with international law enforcement to apprehend the remaining suspects.
