An extortion case involving Bitcoin worth over 181 million rubles has resulted in an 8-year prison sentence for a resident of the Moscow region. This individual was found guilty of robbery and extortion, involving cryptocurrency. Dive into the details of this fascinating case and its impact on the crypto world.
In a recent verdict, an Omsk court sentenced a 48-year-old resident of the Moscow region to 8 years and one month in prison for his involvement in a robbery and extortion scheme related to Bitcoin. The court's investigation revealed that during August and September 2021, the perpetrator was in Omsk, where he closely monitored a local resident, suspecting that he possessed substantial Bitcoin savings totaling 181 million rubles.
The extortionist repeatedly contacted the victim, using threats and demands to coerce the transfer of Bitcoin to his cryptocurrency wallet. In November 2021, the criminal, along with two accomplices, purchased two electric shock devices in Moscow, returned to Omsk, and continued surveillance on the Omsk resident, with intentions to carry out an attack.
The case took a dramatic turn on the night of December 22, 2021, when the accused and one of his accomplices, masked and armed with electric shockers, infiltrated the home of a family of three, believing that the Bitcoin owner was among them. However, one of the residents successfully resisted the attackers, causing them to flee the scene.
Authorities managed to identify and apprehend the mastermind behind the crime, although he did not admit guilt. Consequently, criminal charges were filed for "robbery" and "extortion."
The court's decision handed down a prison sentence of 8 years and 1 month in a high-security penal colony and ordered the extortionist to pay compensation of 180,000 rubles to three victims as compensation for the emotional distress caused.
This case highlights the unique challenges and legal implications associated with cryptocurrency-related crimes and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of security in the crypto world.
