In a case that highlights the dangers of the growing digital world, a Florida man, Remy Ra St Felix, has been sentenced to 47 years in prison for his role in a brutal string of thefts that target cryptocurrency through home invasions. Over the course of these invasions, more than $3.5 million was stolen from victims, and St Felix, along with his co-conspirators, carried out these crimes through a combination of SIM swapping, hacking, and terrifying physical assaults.
A Well-Planned Crime
Beginning in late 2020, a group of criminals led by St Felix and his co-conspirators developed a scheme to steal cryptocurrency from victims by hacking their digital accounts. One method used was SIM swapping. This technique involves taking control of a victim’s phone number, allowing the criminals to access the victim’s accounts and steal their cryptocurrency. But the criminals didn’t stop there; in 2022, they escalated their crimes by planning violent home invasions. These robberies involved breaking into homes, holding victims at gunpoint, and forcing them to hand over access to their digital wallets.
The criminals communicated through encrypted messaging platforms, which allowed them to coordinate their plans without fear of being tracked. They planned every detail, from which homes to target to the type of weapons and equipment needed for the invasions. St Felix quickly rose through the ranks of the group and soon became the leader of the home invasion crew, guiding others to commit the brutal crimes.
Violent Robberies in Florida and Beyond
In September 2022, St Felix and his crew carried out violent home invasions in Delray Beach and Homestead, Florida. In these incidents, they terrorized families in their homes. In Delray Beach, the crew held a family at gunpoint and demanded access to their accounts. In Homestead, a family was also held at gunpoint, and the head of the household was abducted and beaten before being found by law enforcement 120 miles away.
This wasn’t the only time the crew ventured out to commit such acts. In December 2022, they attempted to rob a man and his family in Little Elm, Texas. The victims were held hostage for over three hours while the crew tortured the man and his mother. The robbers walked away with $150,000 in cash, valuable jewelry, and more.
In April 2023, St Felix and his crew continued their spree by targeting a couple in Durham, North Carolina. This time, they accessed the couple’s email and conducted days of surveillance before invading their home. The couple was violently assaulted and forced to hand over access to their cryptocurrency accounts. During this robbery, the crew stole more than $150,000 worth of cryptocurrency, which they then laundered through platforms that didn’t require identity verification.
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Arrest and Sentencing of Remy
The group’s reign of terror finally ended in July 2023 when St Felix was arrested just before he could carry out another home invasion in Long Island, New York. At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of firearms and the tools of his trade, including plastic cable ties used to restrain victims.
Authorities quickly pieced together the full extent of the criminal network. Over the course of just a few days, from September 5 to September 12, 2024, 12 men were sentenced for their roles in the crimes. These men had committed home invasions, theft, and assaults across several states, including Florida, Texas, and North Carolina.
Among the key figures sentenced were Jarod Gabriel Seemungal, who played a central role in organizing the cryptocurrency thefts and home invasions. Seemungal was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement. Nine other co-conspirators, including those who physically participated in the home invasions, were given sentences ranging from five to 25 years in prison.
A Coordinated Response to Digital Crime
The investigation into these crimes involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and local police departments. The FBI’s Charlotte Field Office played a leading role, with help from law enforcement in New York, Miami, Houston, and beyond. The case was also supported by the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), which was created to tackle the rising trend of digital crimes involving cryptocurrency.
Through their coordination, investigators were able to uncover the full scope of the operation. They discovered that the group had used advanced techniques to cover their tracks, including using anonymous cryptocurrency exchanges that didn’t require identity checks, encrypted messaging apps, and fake IDs.
The sentencing of St Felix and his co-conspirators sends a strong message about the dangers of cryptocurrency-related crimes and how seriously they are being addressed by law enforcement. These crimes not only resulted in millions of dollars in stolen assets but also left victims with lasting trauma from the terrifying invasions of their homes.
This case also highlights the growing need for people to protect their digital assets and personal information, as hackers and criminals continue to find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities.
