CT Man Stole $2M Post-Arrest in $245M Crypto Heist, Feds Reveal
Danbury Teen Pleads Guilty in $245 Million Cryptocurrency Scam Linked to Parents’ Kidnapping
Allegations of Continued Criminal Activity
A 19-year-old from Danbury, Veer Chetal, who previously admitted guilt in a massive cryptocurrency fraud case that resulted in his parents’ kidnapping, is now facing new accusations of stealing an additional $2 million through a similar scheme after his initial arrest.
Background of the Case
Chetal is one of three individuals implicated in a scheme that allegedly defrauded a victim in Washington, D.C., of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin during the summer months. Court documents reveal that Chetal and his co-defendants, Malone Lam and Jeandiel Serrano, connected while playing Minecraft online and conspired to deceive unsuspecting individuals into relinquishing their virtual currency.
Details of the Conspiracy
The fraudulent activities reportedly began in November 2023 and persisted until at least September 2024. Authorities claim the trio employed social engineering tactics to manipulate victims into sharing sensitive information over the phone, which facilitated the theft of their cryptocurrency assets. Lam’s role involved acquiring databases of wealthy individuals, while Chetal and Serrano posed as representatives from major tech companies to gain victims’ trust.
Major Heist and Aftermath
Chetal is said to have executed this deceptive strategy approximately 50 times, culminating in a significant theft on August 18, 2024, where over $245 million in Bitcoin was taken from a Washington, D.C. resident. Following this incident, six men from Florida allegedly attempted to kidnap Chetal’s parents, seeking ransom in connection with their son’s involvement in the theft.
Kidnapping Incident
Chetal’s parents, Sushil and Radhika Chetal, were reportedly assaulted and hospitalized after the attempted kidnapping, which occurred near Damia Drive. Initially, they believed they were targeted due to the luxury vehicle they were driving at the time. The assailants were apprehended and charged at both state and federal levels.
New Scam Developments
Chetal was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering after federal raids on his parents’ home and his New Jersey apartment in September. He pleaded guilty to these charges on November 13, as part of a plea deal. Despite the likelihood of deportation due to his non-U.S. citizen status, Chetal has agreed to testify against his co-conspirators.
Violations of Release Conditions
After being granted conditional release, Chetal’s freedom was short-lived. On January 24, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a motion for a bench warrant, citing his failure to surrender his passport and his involvement in further criminal activities while cooperating with authorities. New evidence revealed that he was linked to a $2 million cryptocurrency scam that mirrored his previous conduct.
Arrest and Detention
Chetal was arrested by the FBI on January 28 and transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals. He arrived in Washington, D.C., on March 3, where the court found sufficient evidence of his violations of release conditions, leading to his detention pending sentencing.
Court Proceedings and Future Hearings
The court emphasized the serious nature of the charges against Chetal and the substantial evidence supporting them, which posed a significant flight risk. His lack of employment, educational status, and discussions about leaving the country were also noted as factors in the decision to detain him.
As of now, Chetal’s legal team has filed motions for pretrial release, but the government continues to oppose these requests, citing ongoing concerns about his potential flight risk. A status conference is scheduled for July 2 to address the developments in his case.
