Six men from South Florida face serious federal charges for a brazen daylight carjacking and kidnapping of a couple driving a Lamborghini Urus. The attack was part of a larger plot to extort cryptocurrency stolen by the victims’ son, one of the biggest individual Bitcoin thefts in recent years.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, the incident occurred on August 25, 2024. The victims were rear-ended by a Honda Civic on Damia Drive. A white work van then blocked their luxury SUV. Several suspects allegedly dragged the male and female victims from their vehicle, bound them with duct tape, beat the man with punches and a baseball bat, and threatened to kill them.
The victims were later found tied up in the back of the crashed van following a police chase on Cowperthwaite Street. The Lamborghini was recovered abandoned in nearby woods. Four suspects were arrested shortly after fleeing the scene, while the other two suspects and the Honda Civic were later located at a short-term rental property in Roxbury.
Six Florida Men Plead Guilty
The six Florida men charged are:
- Angel Borrero, aka “Chi Chi,” 23, Miami (alleged organizer who funded the operation and booked flights)
- Josue Alberto Romero, aka “Sway,” 26, Miami
- Reynaldo Diaz, aka “Rey,” 20, Belle Glade
- Anthony Pena, aka “Tony,” 23, Miami Gardens
- Michael Rivas, 18, Miami
- Ricardo Estrada, aka “Ricky,” 21, Miami
All six were initially arrested on state charges and have since pleaded guilty to federal offenses.
Crypto Connection and Masterminds Behind the Plot
Court documents reveal the attack was not random. The victims are the parents of Veer Chetal, who pleaded guilty in November 2025 to his role in stealing approximately $245 million, around 4,100 BTC, through a sophisticated social engineering scam. He has agreed to testify against co-defendants.
Prosecutors allege the kidnapping plot was motivated by revenge and an attempt to recover part of the stolen cryptocurrency through violent extortion. Such incidents are commonly known in the digital asset industry as “wrench attacks,” where criminals use physical force or threats instead of technical hacking methods to gain access to crypto holdings.
Higher-level planners have also been held accountable. Adam Iza, 25, of California, widely known as the “Crypto Godfather,” pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026, to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. He faces up to 20 years in prison. Saif Faiq, 22, of St. Louis, Missouri, pleaded guilty on June 8, 2026, for his role in the attempted Bitcoin robbery and kidnapping.
Federal prosecutors say Iza and other co-conspirators recruited and paid the Florida crew to carry out the operation.
Similar Recent Wrench Attack Cases (2025-2026)
The Danbury case is part of a growing trend of cryptocurrency-related kidnappings and violent extortion attempts reported around the world. Security researchers and law enforcement agencies have warned that wrench attacks have increased significantly as the value of digital assets continues to rise.
One of the most widely reported cases emerged in New York City, where John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33, allegedly kidnapped and tortured an Italian crypto investor inside a Manhattan townhouse. Prosecutors claim the victim was subjected to beatings, electric shocks, and other forms of abuse over several weeks as the suspects attempted to obtain Bitcoin passwords. Both defendants pleaded not guilty, and the case remained ongoing as of mid-2025, with some bail requests later granted by the court.
Crypto trader sillytuna reportedly lost over $24 million in a violent “wrench attack,” where criminals allegedly abducted and threatened him to gain access to his crypto assets. The stolen funds were quickly converted into DAI and moved across multiple wallets in an apparent attempt to hide their trail. The incident highlights the growing threat of real-world attacks against crypto holders, showing that even strong digital security measures cannot prevent physical coercion. Following the ordeal, the trader announced his departure from the crypto industry and offered a bounty for the recovery of the stolen funds.
Another major case involved former Los Angeles Police Department officer Eric Halem, 38, who was found guilty in March 2026 of kidnapping and robbery tied to a cryptocurrency theft. Authorities said Halem and his accomplices invaded a teenager’s home in Koreatown and stole approximately $350,000 worth of cryptocurrency. He now faces significant prison time following the conviction.
Federal authorities have also pursued a separate case involving three men from the Nashville area, Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh, and Jayden Rucker. The trio was indicted in 2026 for allegedly carrying out a cross-state crime spree involving home invasions, assaults, and demands for cryptocurrency access in multiple California cities. Prosecutors described the operation as part of a broader pattern of organized wrench attacks targeting digital asset holders.
The trend has also become increasingly visible outside the United States. France recorded the highest number of reported wrench attacks in 2025, with more than 19 known incidents. Among the most high-profile cases was the kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland, who suffered severe injuries during the attack. French authorities have since made dozens of arrests linked to crypto-related kidnappings and extortion schemes, although many of the cases are still progressing through the courts.
Government’s Aggressive Response
U.S. authorities have significantly increased efforts to combat crimes that combine digital asset theft with real-world violence. The Department of Justice and the FBI are increasingly relying on coordinated investigations, conspiracy charges, Hobbs Act violations, and multi-state prosecutions to target organized groups involved in these attacks.
Officials say the Danbury kidnapping case highlights a growing global trend in which criminals move beyond cybercrime and resort to physical violence to obtain access to cryptocurrency holdings. As wrench attacks continue to rise, prosecutors have emphasized that offenders can expect aggressive investigations, federal charges, and lengthy prison sentences if convicted.
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