Former LAPD cop convicted of $350K crypto theft and kidnapping

Former LAPD Officer Convicted in Crypto Kidnapping and Robbery Case

A jury in Los Angeles County Superior Court has found former Los Angeles Police Department officer Eric Halem guilty of kidnapping and robbery. The conviction stems from a 2024 home invasion where Halem and three other men allegedly stole $350,000 worth of cryptocurrency from a 17-year-old.

Details of the Home Invasion

During a two-week trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Halem and his accomplices posed as police officers executing a search warrant on an apartment rented by the teenager, identified as Daniel. The group gained entry using an access code provided by a conspirator who rented the apartment. They reportedly wore vests identifying them as police and used LAPD-issued handcuffs to restrain the teenager's girlfriend and the 17-year-old victim.

The victim testified that the men threatened to kill him if he did not hand over a hard drive containing Bitcoin. Halem, who had served 13 years with the LAPD and was a reserve officer at the time of the incident, allegedly demanded the crypto assets.

Wrench Attacks and Legal Proceedings

This case is highlighted as an example of a growing trend of "wrench attacks," a form of crypto crime involving threats or violence against cryptocurrency holders to steal their assets. A report by crypto security company CertiK indicated that 72 such attacks occurred globally in 2025, marking a 75% increase from the previous year.

Halem's attorney argued that the victim's account was not corroborated and that the teenager had admitted to obtaining his cryptocurrency through fraud. Halem, who did not testify, is scheduled for sentencing on March 31. His co-defendants, one of whom is allegedly linked to Israeli organized crime, are awaiting trial and maintain their innocence.