"The trial for an investor who allegedly kidnapped Ontario's self-proclaimed 'Crypto King' after losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to him is set to begin Tuesday in Toronto. Akil Heywood, 41, is facing three charges related to the alleged kidnapping of Aiden Pleterski in early December 2022, and two counts of extortion. Heywood was one of five men charged in July 2023 in connection with the alleged kidnapping."
"CBC has reported extensively on Pleterski since the summer of 2022, when the now 26-year-old was forced into bankruptcy by some of his investors. Since then, investors have been trying to track down more than $40 million they gave Pleterski to invest in cryptocurrency and foreign exchange. In May 2024, Aiden Pleterski was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering related to the money he took from investors. Those charges have not yet been tested in court."
Akil Heywood, 41, faces three kidnapping charges and two counts of extortion for the alleged early-December 2022 abduction of Aiden Pleterski. Alfredo Paladino will be tried alongside Heywood on kidnapping, extortion, firearm and assault charges, while other co-accused are being dealt with separately. Jury selection is expected to begin Tuesday in Ontario's Superior Court of Justice. Investors are seeking recovery after more than $40 million was given to Pleterski for cryptocurrency and foreign-exchange investments. A Toronto bankruptcy proceeding has returned about $3 million to roughly 160 investors and found Pleterski spent nearly $16 million on personal luxuries. Pleterski was arrested in May 2024 on fraud and money-laundering charges that have not been tested in court. Heywood was an elected bankruptcy inspector and invested $740,000 through his non-profit; he has denied wrongdoing.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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