On March 3rd, it was reported that former Los Angeles police officer Eric Halem was convicted of kidnapping and robbing a 17-year-old Bitcoin holder. Court documents show that in 2024, Halem, along with three accomplices, disguised themselves as police officers and broke into the victim’s high-rise apartment in Koreatown, stealing a hard drive containing approximately $350,000 worth of Bitcoin. Prosecutors stated that the teenager handed over the hard drive after being threatened, and his girlfriend was also controlled during the incident.
Testimony during the trial revealed that Halem and his accomplices wore vests with police insignia, took the elevator to the 18th floor, and used a password provided by an accomplice to access the apartment. They used handcuffs issued by the Los Angeles Police Department to restrain the victim and his girlfriend, demanding the hard drive. Although the teenager admitted to acquiring cryptocurrency through fraud, this did not affect the robbery charges.
Halem served 13 years with the Los Angeles Police Department before leaving in 2022. At the time of the incident, he was still a reserve officer, operating DriveLA car rental, developing apps for actors, and planning to produce a reality show. The court is scheduled to sentence him on March 31. Other defendants have not yet gone to trial, and prosecutors stated that one of them is linked to the so-called “Israeli Mafia.”
Experts point out that this case highlights the risk of cryptocurrencies becoming targets in real-world crimes and serves as a reminder for investors to securely store digital assets to prevent potential robberies and scams.
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
Bitcoin spot ETF saw a net outflow of $349 million yesterday, with none of the twelve ETFs experiencing net inflows.
On March 7th, Bitcoin spot ETFs experienced a total net outflow of $349 million, with none of the twelve ETFs showing net inflows. Fidelity FBTC and BlackRock IBIT had net outflows of $159 million and $143 million respectively. Currently, the total net asset value of Bitcoin spot ETFs is $87.075 billion.
GateNews20m ago
I am a father of two children, and I bought two bitcoins for them.
A father shared on Reddit that due to concerns about war, inflation, and AI replacing jobs, he chose to buy 2 Bitcoins for his two sons in hopes of breaking the cycle of poverty and providing security for his children. He admitted that this is not out of greed, but out of love and responsibility for the future, and encouraged other parents to work together to create a better future for their children.
動區BlockTempo34m ago
The whale "pension-usdt.eth" has increased its Bitcoin long position to 1,000 coins, with a holding value of nearly $67 million.
Gate News Report, March 8 — According to HyperInsight monitoring, the swing whale "pension-usdt.eth" continued to increase its Bitcoin long positions this morning. As of press time, its Bitcoin long positions have increased to over 1,000 coins, with a holding value of nearly $67 million, currently with an unrealized loss of $460,000.
GateNews1h ago
Crude oil prices break through $90! A weekly surge of 35%. Middle Eastern energy supply chain disruption, UAE and Kuwait announce production cuts
Oil tanker flows through the Strait of Hormuz are nearly at a standstill, causing U.S. WTI crude oil prices to surge 35% within a week. Taiwan's CPC is about to raise gasoline prices by 1.5 yuan. Multiple oil-producing countries have initiated production cuts to respond to supply shocks. If the blockade continues, oil prices could reach $150, impacting the global economy and inflation pressures.
動區BlockTempo1h ago
