A former LAPD reserve officer, Eric Halem, has been sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years for kidnapping and robbing a teenager of a hard drive containing about $350,000 worth of Bitcoin. The sentence was imposed by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo, who rejected Halem's request for a new trial. According to court records, Halem received concurrent life sentences for kidnapping and robbery, along with an additional 15-year prison term. The judge stated that the trial evidence showed Halem acted out of 'sheer and utter greed'.
Background on the Case
Halem's conviction in March followed a two-week trial, where prosecutors presented evidence that he and three alleged co-conspirators entered a high-rise apartment in Los Angeles and threatened to kill the victim unless he handed over the hard drive containing the Bitcoin.
Recent Cryptocurrency-Related Crimes
The sentencing comes as U.S. authorities continue to pursue several violent cases involving cryptocurrency holders. Earlier this month, federal prosecutors in Connecticut announced charges against three Missouri men accused of planning a home invasion to force a victim to transfer Bitcoin.
