One individual has admitted to charges connected to the abduction of Aiden Pleterski, known as the “Crypto King” of Ontario, in December 2022. Deren Akyeam-Pong, aged 26, has confessed to nine charges, including kidnapping, assault, and various firearm offenses in Ontario Superior Court in Toronto. The specifics of his confession, as outlined in an agreed statement of facts, are currently under a temporary publication restriction.
The trial for two other individuals implicated in the kidnapping was scheduled to commence on Tuesday with jury selection. However, following Akyeam-Pong’s admission of guilt, the lawyers for the other defendants sought a postponement, which Justice Gillian Roberts granted. A new trial date is pending scheduling.
One of the accused individuals, Akil Heywood, who is set to face trial, was identified as an investor who allegedly lost a substantial amount of money to Pleterski, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to court documents. Heywood, aged 41, is charged with three counts related to the purported kidnapping and two counts of extortion. Heywood has maintained his innocence, as previously stated to CBC Toronto.
Accompanying Heywood in the trial will be Alfredo Paladino, facing charges of kidnapping, extortion, firearm offenses, and assault. The allegations against both men are yet to be examined in court.
Since the summer of 2022, CBC has extensively covered the story of Pleterski, who was pushed into bankruptcy by some of his investors. Investors have been striving to reclaim over $40 million they entrusted to Pleterski for investments in cryptocurrency and foreign exchange. A bankruptcy proceeding in Toronto has so far recovered around $3 million for approximately 160 investors. The investigation revealed that Pleterski had utilized nearly $16 million of investor funds on personal expenses such as private jets, vacations, and luxury cars.
Heywood played a significant part in Pleterski’s bankruptcy until his arrest in July 2023. He was selected as one of five inspectors by fellow investors in August 2022 to represent their interests in the bankruptcy process.
Upon learning of Heywood’s arrest in 2023, CBC received a 12-minute edited video featuring a visibly injured Pleterski explaining the circumstances surrounding the money he received and apologizing to investors. Pleterski’s lawyer indicated that while some of the content in the video was accurate, Pleterski was coerced by his alleged captors to make certain statements.
In May 2024, Pleterski was apprehended and charged with fraud and money laundering related to investor funds. These charges are yet to be adjudicated, with Pleterski’s trial scheduled for October of the following year.