Three men from St. Louis have pleaded not guilty to a federal conspiracy charge tied to an alleged attempt to steal Bitcoin through a home invasion in Connecticut.
U.S. prosecutors say Sedric Louis, 32, John Davis, 34, and Martel Williams, 27, traveled to the state in August 2024, gathered equipment including rental vehicles, air rifles and walkie-talkies, and spent two days watching an intended target and the target’s parents. The charge, Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, carries a maximum sentence of 20 years if there is a conviction.
Charge announced in Connecticut
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced the case on Aug. 4. A New Haven grand jury had already returned a second superseding indictment on May 22 charging the three men with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, commonly called Hobbs Act robbery.
Federal prosecutors said the alleged plot centered on forcing a victim to transfer Bitcoin to accounts controlled by organizers. The Justice Department also emphasized that an indictment is not evidence of guilt and that all three defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What prosecutors say happened
According to the government, the Missouri group was in Connecticut from Aug. 21 through Aug. 24, 2024. During that period, prosecutors allege, they prepared for the planned invasion and conducted surveillance of the intended victim and the victim’s parents on two consecutive days.
The alleged operation did not go forward. Prosecutors say the group withdrew after becoming concerned that home security cameras may have captured them and after losing confidence in the plan. The public court summary does not identify the intended victim or say how much cryptocurrency the alleged crew expected to obtain.
Connection to a later kidnapping case
Federal authorities say the alleged Missouri plot is linked to a later and separate attack in Connecticut. After the Missouri men left, another group from Florida allegedly arrived. Danbury police arrested six Florida men on Aug. 25, 2024 after a violent carjacking and the beating and kidnapping of two people.
Investigators identified those victims as the parents of a person who had participated in the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin. The Justice Department’s latest announcement did not name that person, but it presented the Missouri allegations as part of the broader federal case surrounding the same target family.
Status of the defendants and related cases
Louis and Davis have remained in custody since their arrests on June 25 and entered not guilty pleas on July 30. Williams pleaded not guilty on July 17 and was released on bond.
The wider prosecution already includes guilty pleas from two alleged coordinators. Adam Iza pleaded guilty on June 1 to the same Hobbs Act conspiracy charge; prosecutors say he handled communications, logistics and funding. Saif Faiq pleaded guilty on June 8, and prosecutors say he recruited participants, traveled to Connecticut and took part in surveillance. Their sentencings are scheduled for Aug. 12 and Aug. 28, respectively. Prosecutors have also said that six defendants charged in the later carjacking and kidnapping have pleaded guilty.
What comes next
No trial date for Louis, Davis or Williams was included in the Aug. 4 announcement. The next stages in federal court are expected to involve pretrial motions, evidence issues and scheduling, unless plea deals are reached before then.
The investigation is being handled by the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI offices in Los Angeles and St. Louis, and Danbury police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Daniel George are leading the prosecution. The August sentencings for Iza and Faiq may offer the next public developments in the broader case.
Source: crypto.news