Three Missouri Men Charged In $245M Bitcoin Robbery Plot Targeting Danbury Family

Three Missouri men have been charged over an alleged plan to invade a Connecticut home and force the occupants to transfer Bitcoin connected to one of the largest U.S. crypto theft cases.

Sedric Louis, 32, John Davis, 34, and Martel Williams, 27, all from St. Louis, were added to the case through a second superseding indictment returned on May 22. Each faces conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, known as Hobbs Act robbery, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years.

The intended targets were Veer Chetal and his parents. Chetal later pleaded guilty to charges tied to the theft of more than 4,100 BTC from a Washington, D.C. victim in August 2024, then worth roughly $245 million.

Missouri Crew Stalked Family For Two Days

Louis, Davis and Williams traveled to Connecticut between August 21 and August 24, 2024, obtained rental vehicles and gathered equipment including air rifles and walkie-talkies.

The group allegedly surveilled Chetal and his parents for two days while waiting for an opportunity to enter their home. The plan was to threaten Chetal and force him to transfer stolen cryptocurrency into wallets controlled by the scheme’s organizers.

The three abandoned the operation after becoming concerned that home-security cameras had captured them and after communication with other participants deteriorated.

A separate Florida crew arrived shortly afterward and carried out the attack on August 25. Six men violently carjacked the family’s Lamborghini Urus, assaulted Chetal’s parents and forced them into another vehicle before police intervened. All six defendants connected to that kidnapping have since pleaded guilty.

Bitcoin Theft Sparked Multiple Robbery Plans

The kidnapping case grew out of the August 18 theft of more than 4,100 BTC from a high-net-worth Washington investor through social engineering and remote computer access. The wider federal investigation later expanded into an alleged $263 million crypto theft and money-laundering enterprise.

Adam Iza separately pleaded guilty to helping coordinate the Danbury Bitcoin robbery, including communicating with kidnappers, helping direct logistics and providing funding.

James Schwab and Saif Faiq were also charged in the wider kidnapping conspiracy, while Iza faces sentencing on August 12 for his Hobbs Act conviction.

Families Remain Targets In Crypto Robberies

The Danbury case fits a broader rise in physical attacks where criminals bypass wallet security by targeting the people able to authorize transfers.

Recent cases have included home invasions forcing crypto holders to surrender wallet access and kidnapping attempts targeting relatives of prominent crypto executives.