Federal authorities have announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a superseding indictment against three men for their alleged roles in a kidnapping case in Danbury, Connecticut. The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, and Danbury Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 25, 2024, six Florida men were arrested by Danbury Police following a violent carjacking involving a Lamborghini Urus and the kidnapping of two people inside the vehicle. Investigators believe the victims are parents of an individual suspected of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.
The original indictment charged James Schwab, 22, from Peachtree Corners, Georgia, with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. The recently unsealed superseding indictment now also charges Adam Iza, 25, from California, and Saif Faiq, 22, from St. Louis, Missouri with conspiracy to commit kidnapping as well as conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery.
Authorities allege that Schwab had an altercation with the victims’ son at a Miami nightclub in July 2024 and subsequently communicated regularly with some kidnappers before the crime occurred. He is accused of providing funding for the operation and arranging transportation and lodging for participants. Iza allegedly directed logistics through cellphone and encrypted messaging apps while also providing financial support for both conspiracies. Faiq is said to have recruited others for the scheme, traveled to Connecticut to help carry out surveillance on the victims ahead of a planned home invasion and kidnapping while coordinating activities with Iza.
Schwab was arrested on January 29, 2025; he is currently released on $1.5 million secured bond pending trial. Faiq was arrested on November 12, 2025; he remains detained pending arraignment in Connecticut. Iza has been detained since September 24, 2024 after being charged with unrelated federal offenses in California.
The charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping carries up to life imprisonment; conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery carries up to twenty years imprisonment.
Six other individuals connected with this incident have already pleaded guilty to related charges stemming from the carjacking and kidnapping.
“An indictment is not evidence of guilt,” stated U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies including FBI offices in New Haven (Violent Crimes Task Force), Los Angeles and St. Louis along with Danbury Police Department. The FBI Task Force includes members from Connecticut State Police as well as several local police departments.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck is prosecuting this case.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan acknowledged assistance from other jurisdictions: “U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, and the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.”
