2 more suspects arrested in death of Montreal cryptocurrency influencer

Quebec provincial police have arrested two additional suspects in connection with the death of cryptocurrency influencer Kevin Mirshahi.

Mirshahi, 25, was kidnapped on June 21 from a condo building in Old Montreal, and police believe he was killed that day. His body was found in the Île-de-la-Visitation nature park in Ahuntsic-Cartierville on Oct. 30.

In late August, the Sûreté du Québec arrested and charged a woman in connection with his death. Joanie Lepage, 32, is facing charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping.

On Tuesday, SQ investigators, with the help of police in Châteauguay, arrested two other suspects. Montreal’s Nackael Hickey, 26, and Châteauguay’s Darius Perry, 27, were scheduled to appear at the Valleyfield courthouse Tuesday to face charges of accessory to murder after the fact and forcible confinement of three other people.

The second charge is in connection with the June 21 incident, where three other people – in addition to Mirshahi – were kidnapped. They were found at a bus stop a day later, unharmed, but Mirshahi remained missing.

Hickey was also charged with attempted murder and multiple charges for his alleged involvement in a violent shooting in Dollard-des-Ormeaux on Montreal’s West Island in August.

Mirshahi had been under investigation by the province’s financial regulator, the Autorité des marchés financiers, which in 2021 sought an order against him, two other individuals and a company, forbidding any activities or transactions covered by the provincial Securities Act.

An administrative tribunal’s subsequent ruling included “bans on engaging in any activities as investment dealers or advisers,” including promotion on social media in connection with a specific cryptocurrency.

According to the ruling, Mirshahi owned and operated a private, paid Telegram group called Crypto Paradise Island.

–With files from The Canadian Press