Six men have been charged for kidnapping a Chicago family and extorting $15 million in cryptocurrency. The incident occurred in November 2023.
Details of the Kidnapping
According to the Chicago Tribune, the accused knocked on the family's townhouse door under the guise of a damaged garage door. They then forced their way in at gunpoint. The family and the nanny were taken to an Airbnb house, followed by another location the next day. The kidnappers demanded ransom in cryptocurrencies, threatening to kill the victims. They were released after five days.
Charges and Arrests
The charges were filed on December 13. Out of the six suspects, only 34-year-old Zehuan Wei was arrested as he attempted to re-enter the U.S. from Mexico. The remaining five, Fan Zhang, Huajing Yan, Shengnan Jiang, Shiqiang Lian, and Ye Cao, are believed to have fled to China.
Investigation Progress
Before filing charges, U.S. officials gathered evidence, including surveillance footage from the Airbnb and analysis of cryptocurrency wallets. Law enforcement collected DNA samples from a car rented by Wei and compared suspect photos with customs records and driver's licenses. The victims were able to identify some of the kidnappers in photo lineups.
The investigation and search for the remaining suspects are ongoing. The recovery of the cryptocurrency amount remains unresolved.
