Belgian Court Jails Trio 12 Years for Crypto Investor’s Wife Kidnapping—Masterminds Still at Large

A court in Brussels has sentenced three men to 12 years in prison for the December 2024 abduction of the wife of Belgian crypto investor and content creator Stephane Winkel.

The sentencing, handed down on Thursday, comes as European authorities face a rising number of crypto-linked kidnapping cases.

According to prosecutors, the group snatched Winkel’s wife outside their home on December 20 and forced her into a van registered in France. The attackers then attempted to flee toward the Belgian coast.

Winkel immediately contacted the police, triggering a swift response. Officers intercepted the van near Bruges, forcing it into a ditch and arresting the three adults inside. A fourth suspect, a minor, was referred to juvenile court.