- Witnesses described how a former police officer impersonated an LAPD officer and stole $350,000 in cryptocurrency.
- The criminals used actual LAPD handcuffs to restrain {the teenager} and his girlfriend.
- Harem had been on the job for about 13 years. Sentencing might be decided on March 31, 2026.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court docket jury has convicted former Los Angeles Police Officer Eric Hallem of kidnapping and theft for breaking into a house and stealing cryptocurrency from a teenage boy. The jury reached its verdict on March 2 after a trial that lasted a number of days, with witnesses explaining how the previous police officer and his crew impersonated legislation enforcement and stole $350,000 in Bitcoin.
Prosecutors revealed how in December 2024, the 38-year-old Harem and his crew, a few of whom have suspected ties to organized crime, dressed up as cops and claimed to be serving a warrant at a high-rise constructing in Koreatown.
Witnesses stated the crew used actual LAPD handcuffs to restrain the teenager’s girlfriend and the teenager boy and threatened to hurt them until they handed over their cryptocurrency wallets and arduous drives. As soon as I bought what I needed, I grabbed my digital property and was off.
Amongst different issues, the proceedings allege a critical breach of public belief, as Mr. Hallem served with the Los Angeles Police Division for roughly 13 years earlier than departing in 2022, after which he continued to serve briefly as a reserve officer.
Because of this, prosecutors argued, as an alternative of defending folks, Harem used his background as a police officer to commit violent crimes and used worry and authority to focus on teenagers.
The conviction happened seven months after Halem was first arrested in August 2025, when the Los Angeles County District Legal professional’s Workplace charged him with kidnapping for ransom and armed housebreaking. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2026.
Growing threat of digital foreign money property
The case additionally highlights bigger points akin to public belief and the evolving nature of legal exercise as crypto property proceed to develop.
Intrusions and violent thefts focusing on crypto-asset holders have drawn the eye of legislation enforcement companies in the USA and overseas, demonstrating that holding high-value digital property comes with real-world dangers. For instance, in 2024 and 2025, there have been quite a few violent house invasions and cryptocurrency-related kidnappings throughout the USA.
This exhibits that criminals are now not simply after money, however are shifting their focus to funds saved in digital wallets and {hardware} gadgets not tied to banks.
Associated: South Korean police monitor down second thief in $4.8 million loss from South Korean tax workplace
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