Federal prosecutors have charged three St. Louis men in connection with a plot to storm a Connecticut home and force a bitcoin transfer, according to a second superseding indictment returned by a grand jury in New Haven. The bitcoin at the center of the case is tied to a theft worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.
The indictment
The grand jury returned the second superseding indictment in New Haven, adding to an ongoing federal investigation. U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan is handling the case. The specific charges weren't detailed in the announcement, but the potential penalty of 20 years per defendant signals the severity of the alleged crime.
The alleged home invasion
The indictment alleges the three men plotted to storm a home in Connecticut to force the transfer of bitcoin. Details about the invasion—how many people were involved, whether weapons were used, or when it took place—were not disclosed in the charging documents.
The stolen bitcoin
Prosecutors say the bitcoin in question is linked to a theft worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The exact amount, the victim's identity, and how the theft occurred weren't spelled out in the indictment. The case remains under seal in part, which is common in investigations involving large cryptocurrency thefts.
The three defendants have not yet entered pleas. The case is being handled by U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan. A trial date has not been set.
