Sedric Louis, John Davis and Martel Williams drove from Missouri to Connecticut in late August 2024 with a specific target in mind: a cryptocurrency-rich family they planned to rob at gunpoint. They rented vehicles, bought air rifles and walkie-talkies, then spent two days stalking their mark and his parents around town. The plan was straightforward, brutal. Force their way into the home, threaten the son, make him transfer Bitcoin to wallets the crew controlled.
It fell apart almost immediately. The three men noticed home security cameras and got spooked. Communication with whoever was coordinating the operation from elsewhere went sideways. Within days, they abandoned the attempt and headed back to Missouri. Federal prosecutors now say that's when a second crew arrived from Florida to finish what the first group couldn't.
That second team didn't hesitate. On August 25, they rammed the couple's Lamborghini Urus with their own vehicle, dragged both victims onto the street and threw them into a van. The man and woman were beaten and restrained inside. Witnesses called police. Officers caught up to the van, rescued the couple and arrested all six suspects.
The target of both operations was the couple's son. Prosecutors allege he was involved in stealing roughly 4,100 Bitcoin, worth around $245 million at the time, from a Washington resident through an elaborate social engineering scam. Attackers had impersonated support staff at crypto platforms and technology companies, convincing the victim to hand over access to his holdings. Some of those stolen funds later showed up as down payments on Lamborghinis, jewelry, nightclub tabs and luxury rental properties across multiple states.
Louis, Davis and Williams now face federal charges under the Hobbs Act, which covers robbery affecting interstate commerce. A conviction carries up to 20 years in prison. All three have pleaded not guilty. Louis and Davis remain in federal custody while Williams was released on bond. Several people connected to the broader theft and kidnapping conspiracy have already pleaded guilty.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.
