Former LAPD Officer Guilty of Kidnapping in $350,000 Bitcoin Heist

• Witnesses described how the ex-cop impersonated the LAPD to steal $350,000 in crypto.
• The criminals used real LAPD cuffs to detain the teenager and their girlfriend.
• Halem had served for approximately 13 years; sentencing set for March 31, 2026.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury has found former Los Angeles Police Department officer Eric Halem guilty of kidnapping and robbery after he broke into a home and stole crypto from a teenager. The jury reached a verdict on March 2 after a trial that lasted several days, where witnesses described how the ex-cop and his crew impersonated law enforcement to steal $350,000 in Bitcoin.

The prosecution laid out how 38-year-old Halem and his crew (some with alleged ties to organized crime) dressed as cops and claimed to be serving a warrant at a Koreatown high-rise back in December 2024.

According to witnesses, the crew used real LAPD cuffs to detain the teen’s girlfriend and the teenager, and threatened to hurt them if he didn’t hand over his crypto wallets and hard drives. Once they got what they wanted, they grabbed the digital assets and took off.

Among other things, the proceedings noted the profound breach of public confidence, as Halem had served with the LAPD for approximately 13 years prior to his 2022 departure and maintained a brief tenure as a reserve officer thereafter.

Consequently, the prosecution argued that instead of protecting people, Halem used his cop background to commit a violent crime and used fear and authority to target a teenager.

The guilty verdict comes about seven months after Halem was first arrested back in August 2025, when the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged him with kidnapping for ransom and armed home invasion. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2026.

Rising Risk of Crypto Wealth

The case also shines a light on bigger issues, like public trust and the evolving nature of criminal activity as crypto wealth continues to grow. 

Break-ins and violent thefts targeting crypto holders are getting more attention from law enforcement in the US and beyond, showing that holding high-value digital assets comes with real-world risks. For instance, in 2024 and 2025, a number of violent home invasions and crypto-linked kidnappings happened across the US.

This shows that criminals aren’t simply after cash anymore, as they are increasingly shifting their targets to digital wallets and funds stored on hardware devices that aren’t tied to any bank.

Related: South Korea Police Track Second Thief Behind $4.8M Loss From South Korea Tax Service