Bitcoin Heist Gone Wild: Teens Cross 600 Miles To Rob Couple Of $66M In Crypto

A man identifying himself only as “Red” allegedly ran the whole operation from somewhere far away — and police still don’t know who he is.

Bitcoin Robbery Mastermind Still At Large

That detail emerged during a March 17 court hearing in Maricopa County, where prosecutors revealed that an unidentified third party was on a phone call with two California teenagers throughout a violent home invasion in Scottsdale, Arizona, directing their every move in real time.

The teenagers – Jackson Sullivan, 17, and Skylar LaPaille, 16 – told investigators that “Red” and another individual known as “8” had been communicating with them through the encrypted app Signal — and had handed them $1,000 to buy supplies before the job.

The target was a couple believed to hold $66 million in bitcoin.

According to court records, Sullivan and LaPaille drove roughly 600 miles from San Luis Obispo, California, arriving at a home near 98th Street on Windrose Drive on the morning of January 30.

Tied And Beaten

They came dressed in delivery driver uniforms purchased online. They brought a fake package and a dolly. When the homeowner answered the door, the teens forced their way inside.

What followed was brutal. The couple was restrained with duct tape and beaten repeatedly while the intruders demanded access to their cryptocurrency wallets.

The homeowner later addressed the court directly. “I have had a concussion. I’ve had a broken rib,” he said. “They used subterfuge to enter our house, and then he personally beat me repeatedly in my own home.”

The couple’s adult son was also in the house. He hid and called 911.

Police reached the home before the teens had left. Sullivan and LaPaille fled, driving a vehicle with stolen plates, at one point going the wrong direction into oncoming traffic during the chase.

They were arrested just after 11:30 a.m. on January 31. Left behind at the scene: duct tape, zip ties, a 3D-printed unloaded gun, and a burner phone.

Both teenagers now face nine felony charges, including aggravated assault, kidnapping, and second-degree burglary.

Sullivan was released on a $50,000 cash-only bond and is wearing an electronic monitor. LaPaille’s bond was also set at $50,000, though it was unclear whether he had posted it.

Their attorneys have argued the teens were manipulated. Sullivan’s lawyer told the court his client was targeted online and that his parents had no knowledge of what was happening.

The teens themselves told investigators they had been extorted into carrying out the crime.

An FBI spokesperson confirmed the agency is aware of the investigation but said it is not currently involved.

The mystery figure known as “Red” has not been charged and remains unidentified. Prosecutors acknowledged in open court they do not know his current whereabouts.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView