Londoner held in California over alleged £125,000 cryptocurrency theft plot
Bilal Charles, a Londoner who survived a filmed machete attack in Essex in 2024, is being held in California over an alleged attempt to steal cryptocurrency and make fraudulent purchases using a man’s stolen iPhone. He denies an access device fraud charge and faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years if convicted.
US investigators allege the phone was taken outside a San Francisco nightclub in June and used to try to withdraw more than $167,000 (£125,000) in Bitcoin and Ethereum. A 48-hour security delay prevented the crypto withdrawals, but investigators say the phone was used for other purchases and an unauthorised $4,000 bank transfer was reported. Charles was traced through online account records and CCTV, according to court documents; he was charged on 10 July and appeared in court in San Francisco.
In short
- Bilal Charles denies an access device fraud charge in California.
- Prosecutors allege a stolen iPhone was used to target £125,000 in crypto.
- A security delay stopped the cryptocurrency withdrawals.
Explained simply
Cryptocurrency is digital money recorded on computer networks; Bitcoin and Ethereum are two widely used types. People often store access to it through online accounts, which may be protected by security checks and delays before funds can be moved.
A stolen mobile phone can expose personal accounts and payment services if someone gains access to them. In this case, investigators allege that a man’s iPhone was taken in San Francisco and used in attempted cryptocurrency withdrawals and other transactions; the reported security delay stopped the withdrawals.
Bilal Charles is a Londoner who survived a filmed machete attack in Essex in 2024. He denies an access device fraud charge in the US case, which concerns alleged unauthorised use of a device or account to obtain money or goods; a conviction could carry a sentence of up to 15 years.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Flash wannabe influencer who cheated death in horrifying taxi machete attack is languishing in US jail over ‘plot to steal £125,000 in cryptocurrency’”.