Bitcoin robbery case ends with life sentence for former LAPD reserve officer

Former LAPD reserve officer Eric Halem has been sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years for kidnapping and robbing a teenager of a hard drive containing about $350,000 worth of Bitcoin during a 2024 home invasion in Los Angeles. Summary Former LAPD reserve officer Eric Halem has been sentenced to life plus 15 years for a Bitcoin related kidnapping and robbery. Prosecutors said a teenager was forced to hand over a hard drive containing about $350,000 worth of Bitcoin during the 2024 attack. Halem still faces separate criminal cases, while his alleged co defendants have yet to stand trial. The sentencing comes as U.S. authorities continue pursuing multiple violent cases involving the targeting of cryptocurrency holders. According to the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo imposed the sentence on Tuesday after rejecting Halem’s request for a new trial in the December 2024 robbery targeting a 17-year-old in Koreatown. Bitcoin robbery case has resulted in life sentence Court records cited by the publication show Halem received concurrent life sentences for kidnapping and robbery, along with an additional 15-year prison term. During the hearing, ...