Canadian Man Gets 13-Year Sentence for $1M BTC Kidnapping Ransom Scheme

Cryptocurrency's dark side emerges in shocking kidnapping case

THE BTC RANSOM GAMBLE

A Canadian criminal learns the hard way that Bitcoin transactions leave trails even law enforcement can follow. The 13-year sentence handed down this week shows authorities cracking down on crypto-enabled crimes.

THE PRICE OF DIGITAL EXTORTION

Demanding $1 million in Bitcoin seemed like the perfect anonymous ransom play—until blockchain analysis turned the scheme into a digital confession. The sentence cuts through any illusion of cryptocurrency providing perfect criminal cover.

JUSTICE GETS TECH-SAVVY

Prosecutors bypassed the anonymity myth by tracing the Bitcoin demand to its source. The case establishes precedent for handling crypto-ransom cases as traditional kidnapping charges.

Another finance innovation repurposed for crime—some things never change, even with digital currency. The only thing that appreciated faster than Bitcoin was this criminal's sentence.

Ontario Court ruling highlights dangers of crypto-fueled crimes

The accused party, Keyron Moore, was convicted of multiple charges, including forcible confinement, sexual assault with a firearm, and reckless discharge of a gun. The sentence also imposed a lifetime ban on weapons possession and required Moore to register as a sex offender for 20 years.

Keyron Moore’s case drew much attention following the demand for cryptocurrency ransom, which builds on similar cases across the globe. The victim, identified as A.T., was abducted on November 1, 2022, outside Thornhill Plaza at gunpoint and forced into a vehicle, which transported her to Barrie. She was confined in a garage, stripped, beaten, and burned, and allegedly threatened with a syringe containing fentanyl.

The captors reportedly demanded $1 million in bitcoin for her release. 

The court filing also accused Moore’s partner, S.M., of being under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. S.M. was convicted in 2024 and scheduled to be sentenced on October 3 in Oshawa. 

Detective Renwick, case file coordinator, testified that the kidnappers kept saying they wanted money as well as cryptocurrency and Bitcoin. He added that at one point, Moore threatened to shoot A.T. unless she gave in to sexual intercourse. The victim escaped through the garage door and sought help from the neighboring household.

The victim’s identity was barred from disclosure in March 2024 to protect her.  The court ruling shows the severity of crimes committed when cryptocurrency is used as fuel for extortion and the judiciary’s willingness to impose penalties that discourage such crimes. 

Rising crypto-linked robberies highlight gaps in law enforcement response

The case builds on top of similar crypto-related assaults, often called wrench attacks, where victims are physically coerced into handing over their digital assets. Some law enforcement, including Canadian authorities, are choosing to treat such cases similarly to armed robbery and kidnapping. 

Just two days ago, Cryptopolitan uncovered a wave of crypto-related crimes in London, in which thieves target victims’ phones and drain their wallets. The report featured victims Christian d’ippolito and Neil Kotak, who lost their assets on Coinbase and Binance accounts after their phones were stolen in late-night encounters along the streets.

Such cases end up unresolved, with little to no help from police follow-ups, leaving victims frustrated and financially exposed. 

The report revealed that one in four UK residents aged 18 to 34 owns crypto, and men are three times more likely to be targeted, making them the prime victims of crypto-related assaults. Coinbase reimbursed some users without explanation, while Binance, on the other hand, has not returned any stolen funds. 

Some experts in the industry insisted that stolen crypto can be traced, but authorities rarely pursue investigations. Alec Burns, featured on the Cryptopolitan story as one of the victims who lost $40,000, has reported that the police in the UK have made no progress, showing the need for law enforcement to scale up and target crypto-related criminals. 

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