A Los Angeles jury has convicted former LAPD officer Eric Halem of kidnapping and theft, ending a trial that uncovered how a sworn protector used his badge to terrorize a teenage Bitcoin holder.
The crime occurred within the early hours of 28 December 2024. In keeping with stories from the Los Angeles Occasions, Halem, who was serving as a reserve officer on the time, and three others gained entry to a high-rise residence in Koreatown.
The group didn’t decide the lock; they’d the entry code, allegedly obtained from a conspirator who had rented the unit to the sufferer. The assailants wore vests figuring out themselves as police, successfully weaponizing the sufferer’s compliance towards him.
They restrained the 17-year-old sufferer, recognized in courtroom as Daniel, and his girlfriend utilizing LAPD-issued handcuffs. Below the specter of loss of life, {the teenager} surrendered a tough drive containing the personal keys to roughly $350,000 in Bitcoin.
Whereas we often see tales the place South Korean police mishandle Bitcoin arrests by incompetence, this was calculated malice by an insider who knew precisely how you can exploit the system.
Former LAPD officer discovered responsible in crypto theft.
Former Los Angeles police officer Eric Halem has been convicted of kidnapping a 17-year-old teenager and stealing $350,000 in Bitcoin throughout a house invasion in 2024.
In keeping with the courtroom, Halem and three accomplices posed… pic.twitter.com/mnaSzyJ0N7
— TU_Crypto_News (@TU_Crypto_News) March 4, 2026
DISCOVER: See Our Information To Shopping for Bitcoin Safely
Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom Discovered Halem Responsible In Bitcoin Kidnapping Case
A Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom jury discovered Halem responsible of kidnapping and theft. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on March 31.
The prosecutors argued that Halem violated his oath in probably the most egregious means attainable. Deputy District Lawyer Jane Brownstone introduced proof that Halem even monitored police radio site visitors after the theft to trace the response—a degree of sophistication that terrified the jury.
Halem now faces the potential for a life sentence when he returns for sentencing on March 31. This extreme potential penalty mirrors current crackdowns the place U.S. prosecutors search heavy forfeiture and jail time to discourage crypto-related crimes.
Sadly, Daniel’s ordeal just isn’t an remoted incident. As the worth of digital property rises, criminals are more and more concentrating on holders within the bodily world. Now we have tracked comparable escalations globally.
Only recently, a Binance worker encountered a France wrench assault, the place criminals tracked a goal to their residence to demand funds. The sample is evident: if criminals know you could have crypto, they usually know the place you reside, you turn into a goal.
Nonetheless, in Halem’s case, the “inside info” was literal, figuring out the door code and the sufferer’s holdings.
Importantly, Halem’s Sentencing will probably be watched intently. A life sentence would ship an enormous sign that the authorized system is not going to deal with crypto theft calmly, no matter who wears the badge.
DISCOVER: Shield Your Property With The Greatest Desktop Wallets
Key Takeaways
Former LAPD officer Eric Halem was convicted of kidnapping and theft for stealing $350K in Bitcoin.
The attackers posed as law enforcement officials and used inside information to entry the sufferer’s residence.
“Wrench assaults” (bodily violence) circumvent digital safety measures like robust passwords.
Why you possibly can belief 99Bitcoins
Established in 2013, 99Bitcoin’s workforce members have been crypto specialists since Bitcoin’s Early days.
90hr+
Weekly Analysis
100k+
Month-to-month readers
50+
Skilled contributors
2000+
Crypto Tasks Reviewed
Comply with 99Bitcoins in your Google Information Feed
Get the most recent updates, tendencies, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now!
Subscribe now 
