WASHINGTON COUNTY, MN – Two Texas men are facing serious charges after allegedly kidnapping a family in Washington County, holding them hostage, and forcing them to transfer thousands in cryptocurrency. The incident unfolded early Friday morning, around 7:45 a.m., when the suspects approached a homeowner taking out his trash.
The men reportedly held the man at gunpoint and forced him into his garage, where they restrained him, his wife, and their son using zip ties. The suspects demanded access to the man’s cryptocurrency accounts, coercing him to transfer funds to an undisclosed cyber wallet.
The ordeal escalated when one suspect compelled the homeowner to drive three hours to his cabin, where another cryptocurrency transfer of $36,000 was completed. In total, the family was coerced into transferring approximately $72,000. During this time, the son managed to discreetly call 911, alerting authorities.
As the suspects returned from the cabin, law enforcement arrived at the scene. The two men fled, abandoning an AR-15 rifle and other items in a suitcase, which included a crucial piece of evidence: a Wendy’s receipt.
The receipt, along with neighborhood surveillance footage, played a pivotal role in tracking the suspects. Video evidence from the Wendy’s location helped police identify the vehicle, a rental car from Texas. This led authorities to the suspects’ residence in Waller, Texas, where they were apprehended with assistance from local law enforcement.
The family did not know the assailants, and the homeowner believes a data breach exposed his cryptocurrency account information, making him a target. During the incident, one suspect was reportedly on the phone with a third party, but details about this individual remain unknown.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities seeking more information about the third party involved. The case highlights the unusual and alarming nature of cryptocurrency-related crimes.