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
Tennessee Becomes Second State to Ban Crypto ATMs Statewide, Imposing Misdemeanor Penalties
Gate News message, April 24 — Tennessee has become the second U.S. state to impose a statewide ban on crypto ATMs, making it a misdemeanor to operate or host the machines anywhere in the state. Gov. Bill Lee signed House Bill 2505 into law on April 13 after it passed both chambers unanimously. The l
GateNews1h ago
U.S. Treasury Freezes $344 Million in Iran-Linked Cryptocurrency
Gate News message, April 24 — The U.S. Treasury Department, led by Secretary Scott Bessent, has sanctioned multiple wallets linked to Iran and announced the freezing of $344 million in cryptocurrency across two addresses. Tether assisted the U.S. government in executing the freeze, while Chainalysis
GateNews1h ago
Sun Yuchen sues Trump’s family World Liberty Financial: alleges it froze $1 billion in tokens, applying pressure to inject USD1
Justin Sun sued the Trump family’s WLF in the United States, alleging that it unlawfully froze WLFI and pressured investors to inject USD 1 stablecoins, involving tokens with a potential value of up to one billion dollars. The complaint states that WLF secretly modified the contract and introduced a blacklist, without going through any governance process. WLF says there is no basis, and the case is still in its early stages; later evidence may reveal that it could reshape the governance and business landscape of the crypto industry.
ChainNewsAbmedia2h ago
DOJ Drops Criminal Probe into Fed Chair Powell, Clearing Path for Crypto-Friendly Kevin Warsh
Gate News message, April 24 — The U.S. Department of Justice has closed its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, removing a major obstacle to Senate confirmation of incoming Fed chair Kevin Warsh. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced the deci
GateNews3h ago
DOJ Drops Criminal Investigation Into Fed Chair Powell, Clearing Path for Crypto-Friendly Kevin Warsh
Gate News message, April 24 — The U.S. Department of Justice has closed its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, removing a key obstacle to Senate confirmation of incoming Fed chair Kevin Warsh. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced the closur
GateNews3h ago
Hong Kong SFC Strengthens Global Regulatory Cooperation to Combat Illegal Activities by Financial Influencers
Gate News message, April 24 — Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) announced it is working with securities regulators worldwide to combat illegal activities by financial influencers. Over the past year, the SFC has made progress through enforcement actions and collaboration with
GateNews9h ago
