June 2026 Connecticut Carjacking Traces Back to California Crypto Mogul

On a leafy Connecticut road in late June 2026, a couple in a Lamborghini SUV became the target of a daylight attack. A white van pulled alongside, men emerged and seized the vehicle, forcing the owners, Sushil and Radhika Chetal, into the van. They were beaten, restrained with duct tape, and taken to a rented house in a nearby town before officers intervened and apprehended the attackers.

The incident quickly unfolded into a cross‑state investigation when witnesses, including an off‑duty Federal Bureau of Investigation agent, called the Connecticut police. The response revealed a connection to a February 2026 $245 million Bitcoin heist that had been executed by the couple’s son, Veer Chetal, and two associates.

Federal authorities linked the perpetrators to Adam Iza, a 25‑year‑old crypto trader operating out of Los Angeles who has been called the crypto “Godfather.” Iza, who ran the trading firm Zort, had a history of using former sheriff’s deputies to enforce his business disputes, including extortion, intimidation and false legal actions. He is also alleged to have steered the $37 million fraud against Meta Platforms’ business accounts in 2020‑2022.

The planning of the Connecticut abduction began a month after the Bitcoin theft. Iza and associates, including former deputy Saif Faiq and former Miami nightclub bouncer James Schwab, orchestrated a scheme to take the Chetals’ parents hostage to secure a share of the stolen crypto. The plan involved a crew of six men from Florida, who traveled to Connecticut, paying for lodging and travel. When the abduction was executed, the group was quickly identified by witnesses and apprehended after a covhigh chase. Four were arrested immediately; the rest were found at a rented household and taken into custody.

Iza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery in Connecticut and faces a federal sentence of at least fourteen years. His co‑conspirators remain in court, with some awaiting sentencing. The cross‑state trail, from Miami to Los Angeles to Connecticut, showcases the expanding reach of cryptocurrency‑related crime and the persistence of law enforcement in tracking offenders.

Local officials, in response to the incident, have reinforced their traffic patrol and community outreach efforts. The case also prompted federal agencies to examine the broader pattern of crime surging alongside the cryptocurrency boom, marking a turning point in how authorities confront new technology‑driven offenses.