New York man claims robbers stole bitcoins

A New York man was reportedly robbed at gunpoint on May 27 at approximately 11:30 a.m. The 28-year-old man stated that he had traveled to a street corner in the Crown Heights section in order to meet a person who had answered his Craigslist.com ad.

The man told the authorities that he had been attempting to sell his bitcoins. The purported buyer allegedly let the man to his vehicle so that the transaction could be completed; however, another man sitting in the backseat allegedly pulled a gun and demanded that the seller electronically transfer the virtual currency over. Once the electronic transfer was complete, the man claimed that they stole his cellphone before driving away. He then contacted the authorities. The bitcoins that were allegedly stolen had an estimated value of $1,100. No individuals who may have been involved were identified.

This was not the first virtual currency theft to have made the news in New York in 2015. In February, a bitcoin dealer was reported to have been robbed after arranging to meet with a potential buyer, who then allegedly forced the dealer to transfer more than $8,000 in bitcoins and took $3,500 in cash.

If a person is accused of felony theft, a conviction could result in penalties that could be life-altering for the defendant. In addition to incarceration, there is the possibility of fines, restitution and probation. Those who are facing these types of charges may want to speak with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible in order to begin planning a strategy to use before or at trial.

Source: CNBC, “New York City man robbed at gunpoint for … bitcoin?“, Dan Mangan, June 5, 2015