Three Missouri men pleaded not guilty to federal charges connected to an alleged plan to break into a Connecticut home and steal Bitcoin. Sedric Louis, 32, John Davis, 34, and Martel Williams, 27, all from St. Louis, traveled to Connecticut in late August 2024 and surveilled their target and his parents for two consecutive days before backing out of the operation.
Prosecutors say the group rented vehicles, obtained air rifles and walkie talkies, and spent August 21 through August 24 watching the intended victim and his family. The plan was straightforward. Enter the home, threaten the occupants, and force a Bitcoin transfer to accounts the organizers controlled. The men abandoned the scheme after noticing home security cameras and losing confidence in the operation.
The charges and what they mean
The Justice Department charged all three with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery under the Hobbs Act, a federal statute that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A New Haven grand jury returned a superseding indictment on May 22, formalizing the charges. Louis and Davis remain detained, while Williams was released on bond after pleading not guilty.
A coordinated operation across two states
The Missouri group's failed attempt appears connected to a separate incident involving Florida-based criminals. After the Missouri men left Connecticut, six men from Florida arrived and carried out a violent carjacking. On August 25, 2024, Danbury police arrested them following the beating and kidnapping of two people. Investigators identified the victims as the parents of someone involved in the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin. The Justice Department has not disclosed the connection between the two groups or identified the person at the center of the larger scheme.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.
