California Teens Arrested in Home Invasion Linked to Cryptocurrency Conspiracy
Two adolescents from California were apprehended following a home invasion in Arizona that is tied to a cryptocurrency scheme valued at $66 million. This occurred on the same day Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her residence in Tucson, which is located about two hours away from Scottsdale.
While officials haven’t confirmed any connection between the two cases, they do exhibit some striking parallels.
The suspects, who remain unnamed due to their age, are said to have posed as delivery drivers to gain entry to a house in Scottsdale on January 31. After forcing their way inside, they allegedly bound the homeowners with duct tape and assaulted them.
Court filings indicate that the teens had recently befriended each other and were subject to blackmail by individuals referred to as “Red” and “8.” They purportedly received $1,000 from California to purchase materials such as disguises, restraints, and break-in tools.
One of the victims stated that she had no virtual currency at the time of the invasion. Fortunately, her adult son managed to call the police while in another room. When law enforcement arrived, the suspects made a hurried escape but were later captured.
It was revealed that one of the boys’ mothers reached out to law enforcement in California about text messages her son sent, which described a robbery under the guise of wearing a delivery uniform. These messages included details from a home address in Scottsdale.
California authorities alerted the Scottsdale Police Department about a possible robbery just after the home invasion occurred.
The two teens now face felony charges including robbery, aggravated assault, and kidnapping. They reportedly possessed 3D-printed guns, but police noted that they were unloaded, and its purpose was unclear.
Meanwhile, detectives are looking into Nancy Guthrie’s case, the mother of Savannah Guthrie from NBC’s Today show, in relation to the Scottsdale incident.
Nancy Guthrie, who is 84 years old, was last spotted at her home on January 31 around 9:30 p.m. Investigators suspect she may have been kidnapped. Recently, it was announced that her blood was located on a balcony during the ongoing investigation.
TMZ has reported the receipt of a potential ransom note demanding millions in cryptocurrency be sent to a specified Bitcoin address, with a deadline included. The note reportedly had a threatening tone, suggesting dire consequences if the demands weren’t met.
This memo had two deadlines, with TMZ describing one as being “far more serious.” The FBI confirmed that the initial deadline was set for Thursday at 5 p.m., with the second one extending to the following Monday.
According to hosts on TMZ Live, a ransom letter was sent to their newsroom outlining changing demands with each deadline. They speculated that specific actions would be triggered by these timelines.
Just before the initial deadline, Guthrie’s family posted a video on social media urging the captors to make contact to ensure Nancy’s safe return.
Additionally, a man from California named Derrick Carrera, 42, is being charged for allegedly soliciting Bitcoin payments in relation to the kidnapping. Carrera, residing in Hawthorne, near Los Angeles, faces accusations of making ransom demands and sending anonymous threats across state lines.
A Tucson television station reportedly received a ransom request via an online portal earlier this week. Following a public appeal from the family, both Guthrie’s daughter and son-in-law received text messages asking for payment confirmation from the family.
Authorities trace these messages back to an email linked to Carrera, and his home IP address indicated they were sent from his location. He allegedly admitted to contacting family members about the ransom when authorities obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Previous ransom notes sent to various media outlets were not conclusively connected to the text messages. The FBI and Scottsdale Police Department have been contacted for further clarification.
