Summary
- Five individuals have been convicted for the false imprisonment of two French cryptocurrency millionaires, who were held for 52 hours in a London apartment.
- The victims transferred $30,000 out of a $150,000 ransom demand.
- Prosecutors suggested that the victims' high-profile lifestyles showcased on social media may have attracted the gang's attention.
Five men have been found guilty in connection with the blackmail and false imprisonment of two French crypto millionaires, who were confined for 52 hours in an East London apartment last July, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
The victims, both in their twenties, were ambushed in Shadwell and taken to a flat in Canning Town. Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC informed the Inner London Crown Court that the victims' lifestyles, extensively shared on social media, may have drawn the gang's focus.
Stonecliffe characterized the events as "cold, hard torture." Jurors were told that the victims were stripped, restrained with tape and cable ties, physically assaulted, and had boiling water poured on them. They managed to transfer $30,000 after the gang demanded a total of $150,000.
Neither victim can be named due to one alleging sexual assault by two members of the gang. Although the jury cleared these individuals, laws protecting the identities of complainants are in effect.
Investigation by the Flying Squad
A friend who was taken from the victims' vehicle left his phone inside, allowing police to track the location of the flat through the device. Yasir Mohamed was apprehended at the victims' Airbnb in Earl's Court while attempting to access another wallet. The jury acquitted him of false imprisonment and could not reach a consensus on conspiracy to blackmail.
Gerson Borges and Mohamed Osman were found guilty of conspiracy to blackmail and false imprisonment, while William Adebisi and Julius George were convicted of false imprisonment. Isaac Bakoya admitted to the charges. All defendants were acquitted of kidnapping, possession of an imitation firearm, and sexual assault. Adel Sineen, who crashed the gang's car during a high-speed chase, was found not guilty of false imprisonment but admitted to dangerous driving. Ibrahim Mohamed, also known as Nino, who allegedly orchestrated the plot from overseas, remains at large.
Defense attorneys claimed that there was no kidnapping involved, arguing that the Frenchmen had traveled to east London to purchase cannabis and that the demands were largely legitimate. Stonecliffe countered this by highlighting the aggressive nature of one gang member's demands made to the Airbnb.
Both victims opted not to testify in person, citing fear of the gang. Detective Chief Inspector Laura Hillier remarked that this case is "a rare example of a conviction of this kind being secured without victim testimony."
After the verdicts, the court noted that three of the convicted individuals had prior convictions for serious crimes including manslaughter and robbery, as well as possession of a firearm with ammunition.
Rise of Wrench Attacks in Europe
"Wrench attacks," referring to violent assaults on cryptocurrency holders, have surged over the past year. CertiK reported 52 such incidents globally in the first half of 2026, marking a 33% increase from the previous year. Of these, 39 occurred in Europe and 33 in France, with total losses amounting to $124.1 million. French authorities have charged 88 individuals in relation to this spike in attacks in France.
In this situation, although the victims were French, the attack, arrests, and trial were conducted in the UK, which has seen similar cases. Notably, three teenagers were sentenced for a $4.3 million robbery in Hoxton, and four were convicted for the kidnapping of a Belgian barber mistakenly believed to possess a significant Bitcoin fortune.
All six convicted individuals, including Sineen, are set to be sentenced in September.