Three teenagers from Florida have been accused of abducting a man from Las Vegas at gunpoint, transporting him to a secluded area in Arizona, and stealing $4 million in cryptocurrency and other digital assets.
Belal Ashraf and Austin Fletcher, both 16 and hailing from Pasco County, face charges of robbery and kidnapping. A juvenile court recently decided that they could be prosecuted as adults. Reports suggest that a third teen involved managed to evade capture.
According to law enforcement, all three teens had previously been involved in a disability program together at their high school in Florida.
Judge Daniel Westmeyer has set a hefty bail of $4 million for each suspect.
During a court hearing, Ashraf’s defense argued for house arrest, and Judge Noreen Demonte approved the request, ordering that Ashraf be monitored electronically.
Incident Summary
The victim was hosting a cryptocurrency-related event at a business in downtown Las Vegas when the incident began.
Ashraf, Fletcher, and the unidentified third teen reportedly confronted the victim in his apartment after he parked his vehicle. Police documents indicate that they forced him into the car at gunpoint.
The victim was coerced into compliance with threats concerning his family, and he was ordered to cover his eyes with a towel. Additionally, it appears a fourth accomplice communicated with them via phone during the incident.
The suspects requested the victim’s financial account details, which he provided.
It is believed they took the victim across the Nevada border to White Hills, Arizona—over 70 miles southeast of Las Vegas—before abandoning him in the desert.
After being released, the victim walked about five miles to a gas station to call for help.
Prosecutors allege that the teens stole substantial amounts in cryptocurrency and digital tokens.
The Metropolitan Police Department in Las Vegas tracked the vehicle used in the crime, confirming that the suspects had crossed state lines.
While Ashraf and Fletcher were arrested, the third teen is thought to have fled the country, according to statements made during Fletcher’s hearing.
Additional Context
Police reports noted prior behavioral issues with the three teenagers at their high school. There was an instance where one of them reportedly expressed anger towards a school official, using profanities in English and Arabic.
The FBI has also contributed to the investigation, with a preliminary hearing set for June.
