A burglary case in Scottsdale involving two California teenagers is drawing attention for an elaborate and unusual plot to steal tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.
RELATED: 2 juveniles arrested after attempted robbery, home invasion in Scottsdale
According to newly obtained court documents, authorities claim the teens devised a scheme involving disguises, a 3D printed gun, and specialized technology in an attempt to access a Scottsdale couple’s digital assets.
17-year-old Jackson Sullivan and 16-year-old Skylar Lapaille, both from California, are being charged as adults and face charges ranging from kidnapping to aggravated robbery.
The documents allege the two teens had only known each other for a few weeks before carrying out what appears to be a targeted attack.
The suspects drove from California to Scottsdale after being told a couple living there possessed $66 million in cryptocurrency, documents claim.
The documents detail preparations that included purchasing zip ties, duct tape, and FedEx uniforms online. Police said the teens went to the home on Jan. 31 posing as delivery workers. When the victim opened the door, the suspects reportedly forced their way inside.
Authorities say the suspects assaulted the male victim, tied him and another person up, and demanded access to their bitcoin. When the victim denied having any cryptocurrency, the suspects allegedly continued the assault.
The victim’s adult son was also in the home, hiding in the back of the house. The documents state that they called the police.
Officers arrived and saw the suspects fleeing through a backyard before getting into a car and driving away, according to police. A pursuit followed, during which the suspects drove into oncoming traffic, documents state.
The chase ended when the teens pulled into a shopping center and reached a dead end, where both were arrested.
During interviews with investigators, one of the suspects said they were being extorted by someone online, according to the documents. The individual, known to them only as “Red,” allegedly provided information about the victims and their supposed cryptocurrency holdings and gave the teens $1,000 to purchase tools for the burglary.
Court records show one of the teens has since been released on bail and is being monitored with an ankle device.
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