Florida teens face $4 million charges in Las Vegas crypto kidnapping

Three Florida teenagers are facing charges related to the kidnapping and theft of $4 million in cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from a man in Las Vegas.

The suspects include 16-year-olds Belal Ashraf and Austin Fletcher from Pasco County, Florida, along with a third unnamed teenager who is reportedly no longer in the United States.

Court records show the teenagers face multiple charges, including robbery, kidnapping, and extortion.

A juvenile court judge has certified Ashraf and Fletcher to be tried as adults due to the severity of the alleged crimes.

According to reports, the incident occurred in November when the victim was returning to his apartment after hosting a cryptocurrency-related event.

The suspects allegedly forced the victim into their vehicle and threatened harm to him and his family to coerce the surrender of his digital assets.

“[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,” Court documents stated.

Authorities also suspect another individual was communicating with the teenagers during the crime.

The suspects reportedly drove the victim across the Nevada-Arizona border to White Hills, where they released him.

The victim then walked five miles to a gas station and contacted a friend for help.

During a May 9 hearing, Fletcher’s public defender requested house arrest, but Judge Daniel Westmeyer set bail at $4 million.

Three days earlier, Ashraf’s attorney also sought house arrest, but Judge Noreen Demonte ordered his release with electronic monitoring.

The case highlights growing concerns over the intersection of cryptocurrency and violent crime.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident and any additional parties involved.