Chicago Family Held Hostage in $15 Million Cryptocurrency Kidnapping Plot

A chilling kidnapping case has emerged in Chicago, where six men allegedly took a family and their nanny hostage, demanding a staggering $15 million in cryptocurrency as ransom.

The crime unfolded when the suspects showed up at the family’s home, claiming to have accidentally damaged their garage door, before forcing their way inside. Armed with firearms, they quickly took control of the situation and transported the victims to various locations over a span of five days. The family was confined at an Airbnb for one night before being moved to another house.

During the captivity, the criminals insisted that the victims transfer Bitcoin, Ether, and other digital currencies, threatening their lives if they didn’t comply.

A fortunate break came when one of the victims secretly contacted their father through the Chinese messaging app WeChat, signaling that they were in danger. After being held for five days, the victims managed to escape and sought help by hailing an Uber from a nearby dry cleaner, eventually reaching a hospital for assistance.

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Despite claims that $15 million worth of digital assets were stolen, U.S. authorities have only been able to trace $6 million so far. In December, six suspects were charged in connection with the crime. Zehuan Wei, one of the accused, was apprehended in January 2025 as he tried to return to the U.S. from Mexico. The others, including Fan Zhang, Huajing Yan, Shengnan Jiang, Shiqiang Lian, and Ye Cao, are believed to have fled to China.

In building the case, U.S. officials examined surveillance footage, reviewed cryptocurrency transactions, and conducted DNA testing on evidence collected from vehicles tied to the kidnappers. Some of the victims were able to identify the perpetrators through a photo lineup, aiding in the investigation.

Alexander Zdravkov