Investor accused of kidnapping 'Crypto King'

Aiden Pleterski is accused of spending investors' money on luxury cars and vacations before filing for bankruptcy, according to court records. Then he was kidnapped by one of his investors, according to police.

Late one night in early December, Aiden Pleterski, a self-proclaimed "Crypto King", was kidnapped, then beaten and tortured for three days, according to court records.

Finally, his captors - including one of his investors - let him go, but they left him with a threat: Pay fast and don't go to the police, according to court records.

This week Akil Heywood, 39, who had invested with Mr. Pleterski, 24, was charged with kidnapping him. The Toronto Police Service said in a statement Monday that it has arrested and charged four men on kidnap-for-ransom and other charges: Mr. Heywood, Tyler Fast, 37, and Deren Akyeam-Pong, 24, all of Toronto, and Rakeem Henry, 24, of London. Heywood was among dozens who invested with Mr. Pleterski, who was supposed to invest their money in cryptocurrency and foreign exchange positions, according to court documents. But after spending the money to feed a lavish lifestyle, buying three Lamborghinis and three McLarens, Mr Pleterski filed for bankruptcy in August, leaving investors wondering what happened to their money.

Mr. Heywood, who did not respond to requests for comment this week, had filed a claim for losing $740,000 he invested with Mr Pleterski, according to Grant Thornton, the trustee named in the bankruptcy case. It was unclear whether the three other men charged with the kidnapping also invested with Mr. Pleterski.

Here's what to know about Mr. Pleterski, his kidnapping and his filing for bankruptcy.

A middle of the night kidnapping.

Toronto Police Department said they were alerted to missing person in downtown Toronto area on December 5th. The kidnapping victim was "pulled into a vehicle by the suspects" and once inside two men pointed guns at him, police said. at9mc1 evys1bk0">The suspects "demanded a large amount of Canadian currency, and the victim's life and family were threatened," police said.

The victim was "held in captivity" for three days while taken to several locations, where he was assaulted, police said. At some point during the three days, police said said a firearm was discharged, but did not say if anyone was injured.

After three days, the victim was released in downtown Toronto, police said.

During a court interview in December, Dragan Pleterski, the father of Mr. Pleterski, said that during his abduction his son was beaten and tortured, and that he was only allowed to phone specific people.

"I was not one of those people he was allowed to contact," Mr. Pleterski said. "He was released with the threat he had to find money quickly, and if he had gone to see the police, there would be many more problems."

An investigation led to the arrest of the four men in early July, one of which had a loaded handgun, said the police. . Heywood was arrested July 5 and released on bail. Mr. Fast was also released on bail.

Until Wednesday, Mr. Henry had not had a bail hearing and Mr. Akyeam-Pong was held after his bail hearing, according to the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto.

Mr. Henry did not respond to requests for comment this week. Mr. Akyeam-Pong and Mr. Fast could not be reached, and it was unclear whether they had attorneys.

Who is Aiden Pleterski?