Consumer Protection Tuesday: When Crypto Helped Secure a Conviction in a Tragic NYC Robbery Case

In late 2022, we were contacted by the NYPD’s Crimes Against Persons Division. They were investigating a string of disturbing robberies in Manhattan’s nightlife scene: victims being drugged, their phones stolen, and their digital wallets—banking apps, peer-to-peer services, and crypto accounts—completely drained.

Some victims woke up disoriented. Others never woke up at all.

It was one of the most difficult cases we’ve supported. But it’s also one that underscores the power of blockchain to uncover truth, even when suspects go to great lengths to hide their tracks.

The Pattern

The suspects, operating in New York’s 7th and 9th Precincts, would approach individuals—many from the LGBTQ+ community—outside clubs and bars. Sometimes they offered drugs. Other times, it started with a friendly conversation.

Once the victim was impaired, the group would:

• Take their phone and gain access through face ID or coerced PINs

• Transfer money through banking and payment apps

• Drain crypto wallets—often in minutes

In some instances, victims were found dead from fentanyl-laced substances. In total, over $250,000 was stolen across multiple platforms, including Coinbase.

What We Did

Working closely with NYPD investigators, our team:

• Helped identify accounts used to receive stolen funds

• Traced transactions through both fiat and crypto channels

• Linked suspect wallets to coordinated activity across multiple victims

• Supplied data that became part of the prosecution’s case

Ultimately, this work supported the successful conviction of Jayqwan Hamilton, Robert DeMaio, and Jacob Barroso—a group the Manhattan District Attorney described as deliberately targeting and exploiting vulnerable individuals for financial gain.

They were convicted on 24 counts, including:

• Murder in the second degree

• Robbery in the first degree

• Conspiracy in the fourth degree

• Burglary in the first degree (for two of the three)

Crypto Wasn’t the Crime—It Was the Evidence

There’s a narrative that crypto enables crime. But this case shows the opposite.

Because blockchain is immutable and transparent, we were able to:

• Track stolen funds across wallets

• Link recipients to other incidents

• Help investigators reconstruct the full scope of the scheme

In traditional financial investigations, this level of visibility would’ve taken weeks—if it were even possible. With blockchain, it happened in hours.

Doing the Work That Matters

This case was a reminder that crypto doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It intersects with the real world—in this case, a deeply tragic one. Our job at Coinbase is to ensure it’s part of the solution.

We're grateful to the NYPD and Manhattan DA’s Office for their relentless work in holding the perpetrators accountable. And we’re proud that our data, systems, and support helped make that possible.

Next week, we’ll cover one more case—this time in the UK—where crypto played a critical role in helping convict a group that used dating apps to lure, rob, and assault victims. The victims in that case showed extraordinary courage. We’re honored to have played a part.