Los Angeles Former Police Officer Sentenced to Life Plus 15 Years for $350,000 Bitcoin Robbery
2026-08-05 09:54
Odaily News: Eric Halem, a former Los Angeles police officer, has been sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 15 years in state prison for a home invasion robbery involving the transfer of $350,000 in Bitcoin from a 17-year-old victim. Halem will be eligible for parole after 7 years.
Prosecutors stated that at approximately 2:30 AM on December 28, 2024, Halem and three other men entered an apartment in Koreatown, handcuffed two victims, and transferred funds from their cryptocurrency accounts while also taking cash and jewelry.
The suspects drove a Range Rover and a Lamborghini Urus registered under Halem's car rental company and wore vests marked with police insignia. They gained entry to the apartment using a gate code provided by an accomplice who had previously rented the property.
Halem served 13 years with the Los Angeles Police Department and had been separated from the force for nearly two years at the time of the incident, though he still held reserve officer status. He also faces charges related to insurance fraud and another cryptocurrency robbery that occurred days before this incident; those matters remain allegations at this stage.
Prosecutors stated that at approximately 2:30 AM on December 28, 2024, Halem and three other men entered an apartment in Koreatown, handcuffed two victims, and transferred funds from their cryptocurrency accounts while also taking cash and jewelry.
The suspects drove a Range Rover and a Lamborghini Urus registered under Halem's car rental company and wore vests marked with police insignia. They gained entry to the apartment using a gate code provided by an accomplice who had previously rented the property.
Halem served 13 years with the Los Angeles Police Department and had been separated from the force for nearly two years at the time of the incident, though he still held reserve officer status. He also faces charges related to insurance fraud and another cryptocurrency robbery that occurred days before this incident; those matters remain allegations at this stage.
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