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BRPD seize Bitcoin mining machines, UTVs stolen out of state in one of largest raids in department history
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BATON ROUGE — Nearly 250 Bitcoin mining machines stolen from Kentucky and four utility task vehicles stolen from Washington were found when police raided an abandoned building in Baton Rouge Monday.
A man three states away was looking to cash in on a new business venture in Kentucky. While moving Bitcoin mining machines—computers with high-intensity processors and specialized chips, the plan went awry. Police say 247 machines never showed up at the drop-off point. The machines were reported stolen out of McKee, Kentucky on July 1.
According to police, the owner of the stolen Bitcoin machines was present during the investigation.
Also on Monday, a caller told Baton Rouge Police they found stolen machines and UTVs at an abandoned warehouse. Baton Rouge police along with Kentucky police tracked and recovered the stolen machines, as well as four Honda UTVs. The vehicles were reported stolen in Summer, Washington.
37-year-old Mohammed Khaled was arrested and charged with illegal possession of stolen property.
"At that point, they were able to contact Mohammed Khaled who was arrested at the time, and charged with illegal possession of stolen items,” Baton Rouge Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Darren Ahmed Jr. said.
The computers and vehicles had a combined value of $850,000. According to police, the raid was one of the largest single property recoveries by the BRPD Burglary Division.
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