A federal jury in Greensboro, North Carolina, convicted a Florida man today for his role in an international conspiracy involving violent home invasions aimed at stealing cryptocurrency from U.S. citizens.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Remy St Felix, 24, of West Palm Beach, led a robbery crew targeting cryptocurrency owners through home invasions. Between September 2022 and July 2023, St Felix orchestrated robberies in Durham, North Carolina; Florida; Texas; and New York. Victims were kidnapped in their homes and forced to access and drain their cryptocurrency accounts.
"St Felix and his co-conspirators targeted victims across the United States for brutal home invasions, kidnappings, and robberies in order to steal cryptocurrency," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri. "Although the members of this violent conspiracy tried to cover their tracks through encrypted communication and anonymous financial transactions, they were not beyond the reach of our dedicated investigators and prosecutors."
"The victims in this case suffered a horrible, painful experience that no citizen should have to endure," said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. "The defendant and his co-conspirators acted purely out of greed and callously terrorized those they targeted."
In April 2023, St Felix and a co-conspirator forced their way into a victim’s home where they assaulted, zip-tied, held the victim at gunpoint, and threatened further violence while other co-conspirators transferred more than $150,000 in cryptocurrency from the victim’s account.
Evidence revealed that St Felix's group gained unauthorized access to targets’ email accounts and conducted physical surveillance before attempting the home invasions. They laundered stolen funds through anonymity-enhanced cryptocurrencies such as Monero using platforms that did not conduct know-your-customer checks.
"Engaging in violence in the furtherance of stealing cryptocurrency will not be tolerated by the FBI," said Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan of the FBI’s Criminal Division.
"The crimes committed by this ring of violent cryptocurrency thieves are shocking," said Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office.
St Felix was arrested by the FBI in July 2023 on his way to commit another home invasion in New York. Thirteen co-conspirators were also arrested and later pleaded guilty.
The jury convicted St Felix on nine counts related to conspiracy, kidnapping, Hobbs Act robbery, wire fraud, and brandishing a firearm during crimes of violence. He is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 11 with potential penalties ranging from seven years to life imprisonment.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri; U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston; and Special Agent Robert M. DeWitt made the announcement.
The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated with assistance from multiple FBI field offices and local police departments. The National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) partnered with prosecutors from various districts for this case.
NCET focuses on combating illicit use of cryptocurrencies by investigating individuals enabling digital asset-related crimes.
