- Twelve individuals were sentenced for a series of violent home invasions and cryptocurrency thefts, stealing over $3.5 million from victims across multiple states, including Florida and Texas.
- The group used sophisticated techniques, including SIM card swapping and encrypted messaging, to target victims, with some cases involving abduction, assault, and torture.
- The swift trial concluded with significant prison sentences for the perpetrators, including 20 years for Jacob Seemungal, and substantial restitution orders totaling millions of dollars.
Twelve individuals were recently sentenced in a federal court in Greensboro, North Carolina, for a series of armed home invasions, assaults, and cryptocurrency thefts. The group, led by 25-year-old Remy Ra St Felix, targeted households, stealing millions through victims’ cryptocurrency exchange accounts. The trial, which concluded between September 5 and 12, revealed that two of the perpetrators were from Palm Beach, Florida, while others were foreign nationals. Together, they stole over $3.5 million from their victims, leading to a high-profile investigation involving the FBI, local police departments, and the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET).
The group employed meticulous planning in choosing their victims, using encrypted messaging apps to coordinate their activities. Two of the conspirators, Haisel Daily and Ruben Silver, played critical roles in financing the operation by securing hotel rooms, rental cars, and firearms. The home invasions, which took place primarily in Florida, were violent and left many victims assaulted and threatened at gunpoint. In one case, a victim was abducted and later found 120 miles from his home, severely beaten by law enforcement officers.
In 2022, the group ramped up their activities, committing violent home invasions between Delray Beach and Homestead, Florida. Using SIM card swapping techniques, they were able to hack into victims’ email accounts and gain access to cryptocurrency wallets. During one incident, the perpetrators kept a couple under surveillance for days before invading their home, assaulting them, and stealing over $150,000 in cryptocurrency. These stolen assets were transferred through decentralized platforms and anonymous exchanges, making it difficult to trace the funds.
The crime spree escalated further when the group abducted and tortured a Texas man and his mother, stealing cash and expensive jewelry. However, their run came to an end in 2023 when St Felix was arrested in Long Island, New York, during a planned home invasion of a family of five. This marked the conclusion of the group’s violent operations, leading to their eventual sentencing.
The swift trial resulted in severe prison sentences for the conspirators. Seemungal received 20 years in prison, with five years of supervised release and restitution payments exceeding $4 million. St Felix also faced significant prison time, alongside restitution of over $500,000. While the remaining conspirators received multiple-year sentences, one individual awaits sentencing in October. This case highlights the increasing danger of cryptocurrency heists involving physical violence, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures to protect digital assets and personal safety.
