A 22-year-old St. Louis man pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with a brazen kidnapping and carjacking aimed at stealing Bitcoin from a family with ties to a separate, massive cryptocurrency heist. Saif Faiq entered the plea in Hartford federal court, admitting to helping recruit participants and surveil victims as part of a plan that ended with a Lamborghini Urus being stolen and a family abducted in Danbury, Connecticut, last August. The charge carries up to 20 years in prison; sentencing is set for August 28, 2026.
The scheme
Prosecutors say Faiq's role included coordinating with his brother, Adam Iza, and conducting physical surveillance on the victims — the parents of an individual involved in an earlier theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin. Faiq helped recruit others into the conspiracy, which used encrypted messaging apps to direct logistics and funnel money to the kidnappers. The August 2024 incident involved a carjacking of a Lamborghini Urus and the abduction of the couple; six other people charged in the case have already pleaded guilty, according to the Department of Justice.
Brother pleads guilty first
Adam Iza, Faiq's brother, pleaded guilty on June 1 to the same Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy charge. Court filings show Iza communicated directly with the kidnappers via encrypted apps, provided funding, and directed the operation in real time. The two brothers are among the last defendants to admit guilt in a case that prosecutors have described as a violent, organized effort to physically force the victims to hand over access to cryptocurrency.
Wrench attacks on the rise
The case is a stark example of a growing threat to crypto holders: physical coercion — often called "wrench attacks" — where attackers use violence or the threat of it to steal private keys or passwords. According to CertiK's 2025 Skynet Wrench Attacks Report, such incidents hit 72 verified cases globally last year, up 75% from the year before. The report notes that the target pool has shifted from high-profile executives to everyday private individuals. In France, home invasions and identity data breaches targeting crypto holders have become a recurring pattern.
Faiq's sentencing hearing in Hartford is scheduled for August 28. He remains in custody pending that date.
