Crypto investor Aiden Pleterski says safety precautions following his 2022 kidnapping have left him struggling financially and unable to afford legal representation as he faces fraud and money laundering charges. His statement came during sentencing proceedings for one of his alleged kidnappers, with prosecutors seeking a 23-year prison term.
Pleterski Says Safety Fears Disrupted His Finances
Reading a victim impact statement on Thursday at the Superior Court, the 27-year-old self-described Crypto King said he had forgone normal routines, including steady employment, because of safety concerns. Those precautions caused financial difficulties, he said, leaving him without money to hire a lawyer. He described allegations against him as false.
Pleterski has pleaded not guilty to fraud over $5,000 and money laundering. His jury trial is underway, and he has cross-examined only the first of a dozen Crown witnesses. Crown prosecutor Scott Patterson alleges he guaranteed investors’ money for trading but never invested it. Instead, prosecutors say he spent it on exotic cars, private jet flights, shopping and credit card bills running into millions.
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Pleterski said fear of being imprisoned with his kidnappers had impaired his concentration and sleep. He described fear, stress and uncertainty that continued to affect his well-being, alongside concerns for his family’s safety.
He said he attended court alone and found the emotional consequences difficult to explain to people who had not experienced them. He hoped to one day move forward without continually looking over his shoulder.
Sentencing Requests Span 12 to 23 Years
His statement formed part of sentencing submissions for Deren Akyeam-Pong, who pleaded guilty last October to nine kidnapping-related charges, including kidnapping, assault and firearms offenses.
Crown prosecutor Tracey Vogel requested 23 years for the kidnapping conviction and a separate conviction involving eight gun and drug offenses. Defense lawyer Craig Zeeh sought 12 years.
According to a statement from Akyeam-Pong, Pleterski expected to meet a potential investor on December 5, 2022. A gun was pressed into his ribs in the backseat of a Toronto pickup truck. He was held for three days and moved between multiple locations in southern Ontario. His captors waterboarded him, burned him with cigarettes, and beat him with golf clubs.
The kidnapping sentencing and Pleterski’s ongoing fraud trial remain separate legal proceedings. While prosecutors seek a 23-year sentence for Akyeam-Pong, Pleterski continues to defend himself against fraud and money laundering charges, having pleaded not guilty.
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