Blab Crypto
California Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Role in Danbury Bitcoin-Kidnapping Plot
In a dramatic blend of street crime and digital theft, Adam Iza, a 26‑year‑old from California, received a 15‑year federal prison sentence for orchestrating a kidnapping in Danbury, Connecticut, that aimed to siphon a substantial amount of Bitcoin.
The court, presided over by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford, handed down 180 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release on Wednesday. Iza had already been in custody in California since September 2024 on unrelated federal charges when he pleaded guilty on June 1 to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, a Hobbs Act offense.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, Iza coordinated the plot via cellphone and encrypted messaging apps, directed logistics, and supplied funding. The August 25, 2024 incident began when a Lamborghini Urus was violently carjacked in Danbury. Police arrested six men from Florida who had taken the vehicle’s two occupants—parents of a person involved in a theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin. The kidnapping was part of an attempt to steal some of the cryptocurrency.
Iza’s brother, Saif Faiq, has pleaded guilty to the same Hobbs Act offense and awaits sentencing. The six men who carried out the carjacking and kidnapping have also pleaded guilty, while other co‑conspirators remain awaiting trial.
The investigation was led by the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from FBI offices in Los Angeles and St. Louis and the Danbury Police Department. Prosecutors emphasized that the victims were linked to a separate Bitcoin theft that involved at least $245 million.
Under Connecticut law, kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm is a Class A felony punishable by 10 to 25 years in prison and fines up to $20,000. The Hobbs Act, enacted in 1946, makes it a federal crime to conspire to commit robbery that affects interstate or foreign commerce.
Iza’s sentencing follows a broader federal pattern of targeting the logistical and financial support networks behind large‑scale cryptocurrency heists. The case also underscores the role of encrypted communications in coordinating such crimes.
At sentencing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that Iza’s cooperation with investigators was limited. The court emphasized that the 15‑year term reflects the seriousness of the offense and the involvement of kidnapping.
The case remains ongoing for other defendants. Saif Faiq’s sentencing is pending, and the six men who carried out the kidnapping have been sentenced. Investigators continue to identify additional co‑conspirators.
In summary, Adam Iza has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a Danbury kidnapping that was part of an attempted Bitcoin robbery. The case highlights the federal government’s focus on the criminal infrastructure that supports large‑scale cryptocurrency thefts.
The court, presided over by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford, handed down 180 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release on Wednesday. Iza had already been in custody in California since September 2024 on unrelated federal charges when he pleaded guilty on June 1 to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, a Hobbs Act offense.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, Iza coordinated the plot via cellphone and encrypted messaging apps, directed logistics, and supplied funding. The August 25, 2024 incident began when a Lamborghini Urus was violently carjacked in Danbury. Police arrested six men from Florida who had taken the vehicle’s two occupants—parents of a person involved in a theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin. The kidnapping was part of an attempt to steal some of the cryptocurrency.
Iza’s brother, Saif Faiq, has pleaded guilty to the same Hobbs Act offense and awaits sentencing. The six men who carried out the carjacking and kidnapping have also pleaded guilty, while other co‑conspirators remain awaiting trial.
The investigation was led by the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from FBI offices in Los Angeles and St. Louis and the Danbury Police Department. Prosecutors emphasized that the victims were linked to a separate Bitcoin theft that involved at least $245 million.
Under Connecticut law, kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm is a Class A felony punishable by 10 to 25 years in prison and fines up to $20,000. The Hobbs Act, enacted in 1946, makes it a federal crime to conspire to commit robbery that affects interstate or foreign commerce.
Iza’s sentencing follows a broader federal pattern of targeting the logistical and financial support networks behind large‑scale cryptocurrency heists. The case also underscores the role of encrypted communications in coordinating such crimes.
At sentencing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that Iza’s cooperation with investigators was limited. The court emphasized that the 15‑year term reflects the seriousness of the offense and the involvement of kidnapping.
The case remains ongoing for other defendants. Saif Faiq’s sentencing is pending, and the six men who carried out the kidnapping have been sentenced. Investigators continue to identify additional co‑conspirators.
In summary, Adam Iza has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a Danbury kidnapping that was part of an attempted Bitcoin robbery. The case highlights the federal government’s focus on the criminal infrastructure that supports large‑scale cryptocurrency thefts.
