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Six Youths Charged in Paris Over Crypto-Linked Kidnapping of Mother and Son

The case highlights how cryptocurrency ransom schemes are now a focus for organized-crime judges.

Overview

  • The six suspects, who were charged Friday in Paris, face possible life terms for kidnapping in an organized gang.
  • Four masked men entered the family’s home Monday around 7 a.m. in the Yonne, tied the father, beat him, and demanded a $400,000 transfer in cryptocurrency.
  • After learning the transfer would take seven days to clear, the group took the mother and her 11-year-old and fled in two cars, and one vehicle soon ran out of fuel during the abduction.
  • The hostages were freed in Boissy-Saint-Léger at 6 a.m. Tuesday by the GIGN after about 100 gendarmes traced them to a hotel.
  • The inquiry continues as prosecutors seek pretrial detention, the alleged mastermind has not been arrested, and a seventh person was released when police found the linked phone had been stolen.