# Londoner held in California over alleged £125,000 cryptocurrency theft plot

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/flash-wannabe-influencer-who-cheated-death-in-horrifying-taxi-machete-attack-is-languishing-in-us-jail-over-plot-to-steal-125000-in-cryptocurrency/
- Published: 2026-10-31T14:17:48+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-31T14:32:31+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16252045/Flash-wannabe-influencer-cheated-death-horrifying-taxi-machete-attack-languishing-US-jail-plot-steal-125-000-cryptocurrency.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Americas, Business, Crypto, World

## Key points

- 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.

## Summary

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.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.