A violent gang's ruthless crypto-stealing home invasion spree

A gang led by Remy Ra St. Felix engaged in a violent crime spree targeting victims for their cryptocurrency savings, resulting in assaults, torture, and kidnappings across four US states. The gang used physical coercion, including threats, beatings, and torture, to force victims to transfer their crypto holdings. Despite their efforts, the gang only managed to steal a six-figure sum from one elderly couple, while making millions through traditional hacking methods. The gang's origins stemmed from SIM swapping attacks in 2020, evolving into violent home invasions by 2022. The group's tactics included breaking into homes, holding victims at gunpoint, and inflicting physical harm to extract crypto account details. Despite several failed attempts at extortion, the gang continued to target individuals with significant cryptocurrency holdings. The gang's activities highlight a disturbing trend of in-person crypto thefts driven by the attractiveness of crypto as a valuable and easily transportable asset. The case represents one of the most severe instances of crypto-focused serial extortion prosecuted in the US, underscoring the dangers posed by criminals targeting individuals for their digital assets.