Overview
- Los Angeles County Judge Victoria Wilson ordered Eric Halem and Gabby Ben held without bail after a hearing centered on risks tied to alleged police impersonation.
- Both defendants pleaded not guilty to charges linked to a December 2024 operation that prosecutors say targeted a 17-year-old running a crypto business.
- Prosecutors said the group claimed to be LAPD, restrained the teen and his girlfriend with handcuffs, and threatened to shoot or waterboard the teen to force compliance.
- The intruders secured a safe code for a thumb-drive hardware wallet with $350,000, left after roughly 25 minutes, and ignored cash and watches, according to court accounts and surveillance.
- Authorities detailed Ben’s prior fraud convictions and Halem’s 13-year LAPD tenure, said a sixth suspect is still being sought, and noted the judge ordered jail protections for Halem.