Five men were convicted in the false imprisonment and blackmail of two French crypto millionaires in London, reflecting rising violence against crypto holders.
Summary
- Five men were convicted of blackmail and false imprisonment of two French crypto millionaires in London.
- The victims paid $30,000 towards a $150,000 ransom.
- The gang was possibly drawn to the victims due to their ostentatious social media presence.
In a significant legal case, five men have been convicted for their roles in the false imprisonment and blackmail of two French cryptocurrency millionaires. The incident unfolded last July when the victims were held captive for 52 hours in a London apartment.
The two men, both in their twenties, were ambushed in Shadwell and subsequently taken to a flat in Canning Town. Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC revealed that the victims' lavish lifestyles, prominently featured on social media, may have piqued the gang's interest.
Describing the ordeal, Stonecliffe referred to it as "cold, hard torture," detailing that the victims were stripped of their clothing, restrained, assaulted, and subjected to boiling water. They ultimately managed to send $30,000 in response to the gang's demand of $150,000.
Due to one victim alleging sexual assault by two of the perpetrators, neither victim's identity is disclosed, aligning with legal protections for complainants. The jury ultimately acquitted the individuals accused of these assaults.
Police Investigation and Charges
The investigation gained traction when a friend of the victims, who had been taken from their vehicle, left his phone behind. This led the police to track the location of the apartment. Yasir Mohamed was arrested at an Airbnb where the victims had stayed, though he was later acquitted of false imprisonment.
Among the convicted, Gerson Borges and Mohamed Osman were found guilty of conspiracy to blackmail and false imprisonment, while William Adebisi and Julius George faced false imprisonment charges. Isaac Bakoya accepted responsibility for his actions. The defendants were cleared of kidnapping charges, possession of imitation firearms, and sexual assault. Adel Sineen, who crashed a car during an escape attempt, was convicted of dangerous driving but not false imprisonment. Ibrahim Mohamed, believed to be the mastermind of the plot, remains at large.
Defense attorneys argued that there was no kidnapping involved, asserting that the victims sought to purchase cannabis, thus characterizing the demands as valid. However, prosecutor Stonecliffe countered with evidence of the aggressive nature of the gang's demands.
In a rare instance, neither victim provided personal testimony due to fear of repercussions. Detective Chief Inspector Laura Hillier noted that securing convictions without victim testimony is uncommon.
Following the verdicts, it was revealed that three convicted men had prior serious offenses, including manslaughter and robbery.
Increasing Violence Against Crypto Holders
Globally, incidents of violent assaults on cryptocurrency holders, termed "wrench attacks," have escalated, with a 33% rise reported in the first half of 2026. Europe has seen the bulk of these incidents, particularly in France, which accounted for 33 out of 39 cases, leading to a total loss of $124.1 million. French authorities have taken action against 88 individuals related to these assaults.
This case illustrates ongoing challenges in the UK, where previous cases also involved significant robberies and kidnappings linked to cryptocurrency holders. All six individuals found guilty, including Sineen, are scheduled for sentencing in September.
