Teens accused in Las Vegas kidnapping of wealthy man in $4 million crypto heist face charges as adults

Belal Ashraf and Austin Fletcher, both 16 and from Pasco County, Florida, were charged with robbery, kidnapping, and extortion. A third teen—who is reportedly no longer in the United States—is also being sought in connection with the robbery. A Clark County judge has confirmed that both suspects will be tried as adults.

Last November, a man reported to police that he was abducted at gunpoint by three young men after hosting a crypto event in Downtown Vegas. When he returned to his apartment that night, the suspects forced him into a vehicle and covered his head with a towel.

“[The victim] was told if he complied, he would live to see another day, and if he did not comply, they had his dad and would kill him,” documents said, according to 8 News Now. “[The victim] had a towel placed over his head and was told by the suspects not to look at them.”

Investigators say the suspects threatened the victim to hand over passwords to his financial accounts. During the abduction, the teens appeared to be communicating with another individual through speakerphone, according to the victim’s statements.

Authorities say the suspects drove the man across state lines to the nearby White Hills, Arizona. He would eventually walk five miles in the desert to reach a gas station where he called a friend for help.

Evidence gathered later showed a vehicle connected to the suspects had traveled from Florida to Nevada, with location data placing it near the victim’s apartment. Police in Mississippi also found a gun tied to a family member of one suspect, matching images posted on social media.

On Friday, Fletcher appeared in court. He was assigned a public defender, who argued for house arrest for his client. Judge Daniel Westmeyer, instead, set bail at a fitting $4 million. Ashraf appeared before a different judge on Tuesday and was granted release with electronic monitoring. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June.

The FBI is assisting in the ongoing investigation.