Seven U.K. Individuals Sentenced to 76 Years in Crypto Crime Spree Manchester Court Issues Heavy Sentences A Manchester court has sentenced seven individuals to 76 years combined in prison as part of a violent crime wave that included kidnappings, beatings, and the theft of £100,000 in cryptocurrency. The gang terrorized one victim over a period of several months using various tactics such as threats, weapons, and torture to extort digital assets. Series of Attacks Began in January 2023 According to the Warrington Guardian, the criminals first targeted the victim in January 2023. Scott Armstrong arrived at the victim’s home, threatened him, and successfully extorted an undisclosed amount of cryptocurrency. In February, another member, David Povey, escalated the threats, arriving armed and demanding more digital assets. Despite the victim’s compliance, the attacks did not stop. From Threats to Kidnapping and Torture Over time, the gang’s tactics escalated from intimidation to full-scale kidnappings and torture. In one incident, Gary Edwards and Kane Godiff kidnapped the victim, moved him to a different location, tied him up, and threatened to kill him unless he gave them more cryptocurrency . The gang struck again on November 30, 2023. Edwards kidnapped the victim for the second time and made further threats. The situation escalated such that an anonymous caller, likely a witness, tipped off the police on December 2. Police Raid Uncovers Weapons and Evidence The suspect, Karl Johnson, attempted to flee when the police arrived. The victim was found inside the premises, tied up and with multiple burn marks and injuries inflicted using various weapons. The police recovered a cache of weapons that included a firearm with live rounds of ammunition, ropes, machetes, and knives. The gang had stolen £100,000 ($124,000) in cryptocurrency. However, it remains unclear which digital assets were taken or whether the attackers attempted to launder the funds. Growing Threat of Crypto-Related Crime The case has brought into the limelight the growing dangers of crimes involving cryptocurrency. With increasing value, digital assets have turned holders into victims of physical threats and violence. Law enforcement agencies around the world are trying to trace and prosecute offenders who exploit the anonymity of cryptocurrencies.
