Missouri trio charged over alleged Bitcoin kidnapping plot
The defendants allegedly traveled from Missouri to Connecticut to kidnap a Bitcoin holder and force him to transfer cryptocurrency before abandoning the plan.
Three men from Missouri have been charged over an alleged plot in August 2024 to kidnap a Bitcoin owner and force him to transfer cryptocurrency. Sedric Louis, John Davis and Martel Williams allegedly planned to kidnap the victim in Connecticut and demand the transfer of Bitcoin funds, according to a US Attorney’s Office press release.
The trio allegedly rented vehicles and obtained air rifles to observe the target over two days before abandoning the kidnapping attempt due to concerns about being caught on home security cameras. Shortly after, another crew from Florida joined the plot. The three men were charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery under the Hobbs Act, a federal law with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Louis and Davis were arrested on June 25, 2026, while Williams was released on bond and later pleaded not guilty. Home invasions targeting cryptocurrency investors were the most common physical attacks in the first half of 2026, with 20 reported incidents compared to one in the previous year.
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