A former officer of the Los Angeles Police Department has been convicted of kidnapping and theft after breaking into an apartment in 2024 to steal $350,000 in cryptocurrency. A jury at Los Angeles County Superior Court found Eric Halem guilty after a two-week trial, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Prosecutors said Halem, along with three others, impersonated police officers, wearing shirts labeled “police” and using access codes to enter an apartment rented by a 17-year-old. The group is accused of handcuffing the victim and his girlfriend, threatening to shoot if they did not surrender a hard drive containing Bitcoin.
The case is considered part of a global wave of “wrench attack” crimes targeting cryptocurrency investors. According to CertiK, 72 similar incidents were recorded in 2025, a 75% increase from the previous year. Halem is expected to be sentenced on March 31, while his accomplices await trial.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Husband accuses wife of stealing over 2,000 bitcoins! Judge: The plaintiff has a very high chance of winning.
The UK High Court recently heard a Bitcoin theft case in which plaintiff Ping Fai Yuen accused his separated wife Fun Yung Li of stealing Bitcoin from his hardware wallet through secret surveillance, valued at approximately $176 million. Audio recordings and search warrant evidence supported the plaintiff's claims. The court maintained the asset freeze order but rejected certain claims. The judge found the plaintiff had an extremely high likelihood of success and recommended expediting the trial date.
区块客10m ago
SEC and CFTC Establish Crypto Taxonomy With Five Key Categories
U.S. regulators established a framework to classify digital assets into five groups, enhancing jurisdiction clarity. This includes commodities overseen by the CFTC and securities by the SEC, with special treatment for stablecoins and utility tokens based on usage.
CryptoFrontNews24m ago
A certain Korean CEX is pushing for the reelection of its current CEO, who was previously penalized by regulators due to operational errors
South Korea's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange platform remains committed to supporting CEO Lee Jae-won's reelection, despite the platform facing controversy over a Bitcoin misdisbursement incident and regulatory penalties. Despite major flaws being exposed, the exchange has chosen to maintain operational stability rather than pursue management restructuring.
GateNews1h ago
After Manipulating Bitcoin, Now Silver? Jane Street Becomes Largest ETF Holder, Silver Plunges 30% in One Month
Jane Street made a record purchase of 20.6 million shares of silver ETF in the fourth quarter of 2024, becoming the largest shareholder, after which silver prices plummeted nearly 30%, triggering market manipulation suspicions. Although there is no direct evidence supporting this claim, the timing between the position disclosure and the price collapse aligns, sparking discussion. Jane Street has been accused of insider trading but denies the allegations, with its market influence and behavioral patterns remaining under scrutiny.
動區BlockTempo4h ago
FBI: Fake TRC20 FBI Token Scam Emerges, User Privacy and Security Sound New Alarms
The FBI's New York field office has warned blockchain users to be vigilant against counterfeit FBI TRC-20 tokens, which are designed to lure victims into providing personal information through intimidation tactics and potentially direct them to phishing websites. The scam involves sending fake tokens to victims' wallets to create the appearance of official law enforcement involvement.
区块客5h ago
FBI Issues Warning as Fake Tron Token Targets Crypto Wallets With Urgent Scam
Crypto scammers are increasingly exploiting trusted institutions like the FBI to deceive users, using fake Tron-based tokens and urgent messaging to steal sensitive data while losses across digital asset fraud surge into the billions.
FBI Issues Warning Raising Alarm Over Expanding Crypto Scam
Coinpedia8h ago
