One of the suspects accused of abducting Ontario’s self-proclaimed “Crypto King,” Aiden Pleterski, has pleaded guilty to several charges, marking a significant development in a high-profile case that has highlighted the risks associated with public displays of crypto wealth.
Deren Akyeam-Pong entered guilty pleas to nine charges, including kidnapping, assault, and firearms-related offences, all connected to the violent abduction of Pleterski in December 2022.
Following the plea, the Ontario Superior Court in Toronto adjourned the trial of his two co-accused, with a new date yet to be announced.
Pleterski, known for flaunting a lavish lifestyle allegedly funded by investors, was kidnapped and held captive for three days before being released under threat.
Court documents reveal he had spent nearly $16 million of investor funds on luxury items such as private jets, high-end cars, and vacations—often showcasing his spending online.
During his captivity, he reportedly called his landlord, pleading for $3 million to meet the ransom demand.
The abduction occurred just months after Pleterski was forced into bankruptcy in mid-2022. At the time, investors were seeking to recover over $40 million they had entrusted to him for cryptocurrency and foreign exchange trading. Pleterski is now facing his own legal troubles, with fraud and money laundering charges pending. His trial is scheduled to begin in October 2026.
Still awaiting trial are Akil Heywood, an investor who allegedly lost money in the scheme, and Alfredo Paladino. Both face multiple charges, including kidnapping, extortion, and assault, and have denied any wrongdoing. Their cases have not yet been tested in court.
Commenting on the case, cybercrime consultant David Sehyeon Baek told Decrypt that public displays of wealth in the crypto space continue to pose serious security risks. “Oversharing plays a huge role—it practically paints a target on people’s backs,” Baek said, noting that criminals often use social media as a form of open-source intelligence.
Pleterski’s case is part of a growing trend of “wrench attacks”—physical assaults targeting cryptocurrency holders to force asset transfers. Similar incidents have been reported in Israel, Brazil, and several parts of Canada. In 2024, WonderFi Technologies CEO Dean Skurka was kidnapped in Toronto, while another incident involved a victim being tortured and sexually assaulted in a $1 million Bitcoin-related extortion case.
Security researcher Jameson Lopp recently warned that 2025 could be a record year for such attacks. With over 50 incidents reported globally so far, many experts believe the increasing visibility of digital wealth is directly linked to rising physical threats.
