Michaela
Three Florida teens are facing serious allegations after reportedly abducting a man at gunpoint following a cryptocurrency event in Las Vegas. The suspects are accused of stealing digital assets valued at approximately $4 million, including cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
According to a report by local Las Vegas outlet 8 News Now, 16-year-olds Austin Fletcher and Belal Ashraf of Pasco County, Florida, along with a third unidentified teen, have been charged with robbery, kidnapping, and extortion. Fletcher and Ashraf have been formally certified to stand trial as adults, following a ruling by a juvenile court judge.
By the time Fletcher’s probable cause hearing took place, the third unidentified teenager had already left the United States, according to a prosecutor.
The alleged abduction took place in November, though details of the incident have only recently been made public. According to court documents, the victim contacted law enforcement claiming that three young men forced him into a vehicle at gunpoint, transported him to a remote desert location, and stole millions of dollars in digital assets.
According to police reports, the victim had been hosting a cryptocurrency-focused event at a business in Downtown Las Vegas prior to the incident. After returning to his apartment complex and parking his car, he was allegedly confronted by the three suspects, who forced him into the backseat of their vehicle at gunpoint.
“[The victim] was told if he complied, he would live to see another day, and if he did not comply, they had his dad and would kill him,” documents indicated. “[The victim] had a towel placed over his head and was told by the suspects not to look at them.”
Furthermore, the Florida teens further pressured the victim to surrender his passwords and issued threats to gain access to his financial accounts. The police report also shared that the suspects were in communication with an unidentified individual via speakerphone, which the victim could reportedly hear during the incident.
Authorities believe the three suspects drove the victim across the Nevada state line to White Hills, Arizona. The victim then trekked five miles through the desert to reach a nearby gas station, where he contacted a friend for assistance.
Investigators identified a potential suspect vehicle traveling from Florida to Nevada, with stops that included the vicinity of the victim’s residence, according to police. In a separate incident, authorities in Mississippi conducted a traffic stop involving a relative of one of the suspects, during which they recovered a firearm that matched one seen in the teenager’s social media posts.
The case emphasizes a troubling new trend: the intersection of violent crime and digital wealth. As cryptocurrencies and NFTs grow in popularity—and value—law enforcement warns that high-profile holders could become targets.
Authorities say this incident is a stark reminder that the digital asset world, while virtual, can have very real and dangerous consequences. The investigation remains ongoing as officials continue to examine the growing risks of kidnapping-for-crypto schemes.
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Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
