Three men from St. Louis, Missouri, are facing federal charges in connection with an alleged scheme to seize Bitcoin through a planned residential break-in in Connecticut nearly two years earlier. US Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut announced that Sedric Louis, 32, John Davis, 34, and Martel Williams, 27, have been indicted on one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, commonly known as Hobbs Act robbery.
The charge carries a potential maximum prison term of 20 years.
According to court filings and statements presented in proceedings, the case stems from events in August 2024.
On August 25 of that year, officers in Danbury, Connecticut, took six men from Florida into custody after a violent carjacking that also involved the assault and abduction of two people inside the vehicle.
Investigators later determined that the abducted individuals were the parents of a person who had previously taken part in the theft of Bitcoin valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Authorities allege that those organizing the effort to recover some of that cryptocurrency first enlisted the three Missouri residents to execute the operation.
Between roughly August 21 and August 24, 2024, Louis, Davis, Williams and additional participants traveled to Connecticut.
There they secured rental cars and gathered equipment that included air rifles and two-way radios.
Over the following two days the group conducted surveillance on the primary target and his parents, seeking a chance to enter the residence by force, intimidate the target, and compel him to move the stolen digital assets into wallets controlled by the organizers.
The Missouri men ultimately abandoned the effort.
Court documents indicate they grew concerned that residential security cameras had recorded their presence and became dissatisfied with both the plan itself and limited contact with their co-conspirators.
Shortly after their departure, a separate team from Florida arrived and proceeded with the operation that led to the carjacking and kidnappings.
A federal grand jury sitting in New Haven returned a second superseding indictment against Louis, Davis and Williams on May 22, 2026.
Louis and Davis have remained in custody since their arrests on June 25, 2026; both entered not-guilty pleas during appearances in Bridgeport federal court on July 30.
Williams appeared on July 17, also pleaded not guilty, and was released on bond.
Prosecutors emphasize that an indictment constitutes only an accusation.
Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the government proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The investigation has involved the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI field offices in Los Angeles and St.
Louis, and the Danbury Police Department. Additional support has come from other federal and state prosecutors’ offices.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Daniel George are handling the prosecution.
The case highlights the intersection of traditional violent crime and the high-value, borderless nature of cryptocurrency holdings.
As digital assets continue to attract both legitimate investors and criminal attention, law-enforcement agencies are increasingly confronting plots that blend physical intimidation with demands for online transfers. The outcome of the charges against the three Missouri men will be determined in the months ahead as the federal case proceeds through the District of Connecticut.