On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Los Angeles Times reported that a former Los Angeles Police Department officer, Eric Halem, was sentenced to life plus 15 years in state prison for his involvement in a 2024 home invasion robbery.
The crime involved the theft of $350,000 worth of cryptocurrency from a teenager in Koreatown. Halem, a 13-year veteran of the LAPD, had already been gone from the department for nearly two years at the time of the robbery.
The sentencing followed a two-week trial in which a jury found Halem guilty of kidnapping and robbery, among other charges.
The incident occurred in December 2024, when Halem and three other men allegedly posed as police officers executing a search warrant at a high-rise apartment. The target was a teenager who had amassed a significant amount of cryptocurrency, partly through scamming others.
Prosecutors stated that the 17-year-old victim, identified only as Daniel, surrendered a hard drive containing bitcoin after Halem and his accomplices threatened to kill him. The victims testified that after restraining the teenager’s girlfriend with LAPD-issued handcuffs, the men subdued Daniel, cuffed him, and threatened him with a firearm.
During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Jane Brownstone argued that Halem had violated his oath to protect and serve the public. Evidence presented indicated that Halem and his co-conspirators used a green Range Rover and an orange Lamborghini Urus, both owned by Halem’s car rental business, DriveLA, to travel to Koreatown. They allegedly used police-style vests to gain access to the teenager’s apartment.
Halem’s attorney, Joseph Weimortz, argued for a new trial, citing legal missteps by Halem’s previous legal team, including a failure to call witnesses and a lack of familiarity with the court system. The judge, Mildred Escobedo, rejected this request, stating that the prior attorneys had performed competently and that the overwhelming evidence against Halem was the primary issue.
Judge Escobedo acknowledged receiving letters from Halem’s family and friends describing him positively, but she concluded that the evidence showed he was motivated by “sheer and utter greed.” She emphasized that Halem preyed on individuals who, while potentially criminals themselves, should not have been victimized in such a manner, calling his actions “heinous and egregious.”
Halem is required to complete the majority of his 15-year term before beginning his concurrent life sentences. He will be eligible for parole after seven years. In addition to the charges related to the cryptocurrency robbery, Halem faces pending charges for insurance fraud and another similar crypto-related robbery that allegedly occurred shortly before the Koreatown incident.
Halem’s legal team had also argued for leniency, presenting him as a father and the sole breadwinner of his household. However, the lead prosecutor questioned the sincerity of this argument, noting that Halem was allegedly involved in serious crimes during the holiday season in 2024. Halem’s defense team had also contended that the LAPD’s investigation was flawed, with investigators allegedly cherry-picking evidence.
Halem’s co-defendants have yet to stand trial and maintain their innocence. One co-defendant, Gabby Ben, has prior fraud convictions and is alleged to have ties to organized crime.
Following the sentencing, Judge Escobedo encouraged Halem to use his time in prison for personal growth and to pursue a college degree.
Source: Los Angeles Times
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