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Three Missouri men have been charged over an alleged plan to break into a Connecticut home and force a target to transfer bitcoin. Federal prosecutors said Sedric Louis, 32, John Davis, 34, and Martel Williams, 27, all from St. Louis, traveled to Connecticut in August 2024 to prepare for the robbery.
According to investigators, the intended target was linked to an earlier theft involving hundreds of millions of dollars in bitcoin.
Suspects Allegedly Watched Family for Two Days
Prosecutors said Louis, Davis, Williams, and others arrived in Connecticut between August 21 and August 24, 2024. The group allegedly planned to threaten a man whose parents were later kidnapped by a different crew. They rented vehicles and obtained supplies including air rifles and walkie-talkies.
The group allegedly watched the target and his parents for two days while waiting for a chance to enter their home. The plan was to threaten the target and force him to transfer bitcoin allegedly linked to the earlier theft into accounts controlled by the people coordinating the scheme.
Prosecutors said the group left after becoming concerned that security cameras had recorded them and after losing contact with other participants.
Florida Crew Later Kidnapped the Parents
A separate group from Florida arrived after the Missouri men left. On August 25, 2024, six men were arrested after a violent carjacking, beating, and kidnapping involving the target’s parents in Danbury.
Other defendants have already been charged in the wider case. Saif Faiq, another Missouri man, pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 28. Six people charged over the later carjacking and kidnapping have also pleaded guilty.
Hobbs Act Conspiracy Charge Carries 20-Year Maximum
A federal grand jury returned a second superseding indictment against Louis, Davis, and Williams on May 22. Each man faces one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, also known as Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Louis and Davis have been detained since their arrests on June 25 and pleaded not guilty on July 30. Williams pleaded not guilty on July 17 and was released on bond. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said:
“Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
