A new set of charges has been brought against Akil Heywood, an investor of self-proclaimed “Crypto King” Aiden Pleterski, who is facing trial for allegedly masterminding his kidnapping. Heywood, aged 42, has been accused of a dozen more offenses, including allegedly interfering in a co-accused individual’s legal case. Court records reveal that Heywood was charged last month with trying to obstruct Deren Akyeam-Pong, who had pleaded guilty in the kidnapping, from providing evidence in a judicial proceeding on November 3, 2025.
On the same day that an Ontario Superior Court judge lifted a temporary publication ban on the agreed statement of facts linked to Akyeam-Pong’s guilty plea in Pleterski’s 2022 kidnapping case, Heywood faced the new charge. Akyeam-Pong, who admitted guilt to nine charges, including kidnapping, assault, and firearm-related offenses in October 2025, declined to comment on the latest development involving Heywood through his legal representative.
Among Heywood’s recent charges is his alleged involvement in fleeing the scene of a street racing accident in Scarborough last month, resulting in injuries to four individuals, including an infant. Toronto police reported that Heywood was racing a Mercedes in a green Lamborghini SUV when the Mercedes lost control and collided with a truck. He was charged with offenses including dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failure to stop at the scene of an accident, and participating in stunt racing.
Heywood was arrested in July 2023 for Pleterski’s kidnapping and subsequently released on bail. None of the charges against Heywood have been tried in court. His trial, along with two other co-accused individuals, for the kidnapping and attempted extortion of Pleterski, is slated for November.
Despite requests for comment, Heywood’s lawyer, Domenic Basile, has not responded. Heywood had previously asserted his innocence regarding the kidnapping allegations. Pleterski, who was subjected to torture during the kidnapping orchestrated by Heywood, was held at gunpoint in a pickup truck in Toronto in December 2022. The abduction was the commencement of a three-day ordeal during which Pleterski was threatened with firearms and subjected to torture techniques, including waterboarding, cigarette burns, and beatings with golf clubs before being eventually released in downtown Toronto.
Pleterski’s financial troubles and legal entanglements began in the summer of 2022 when he was forced into bankruptcy by some of his investors seeking to recover over $40 million invested in cryptocurrency and foreign currencies. Despite efforts, only a fraction of the funds has been recuperated for around 160 investors through the bankruptcy proceedings, which also revealed that Pleterski had spent $16 million on personal expenses.
Heywood’s involvement in the kidnapping was allegedly driven by a desire to recoup funds he believed were owed to him, prompting him to enlist Akyeam-Pong and two others to carry out the abduction, as outlined in the agreed statement of facts in Akyeam-Pong’s case. In a separate legal matter, Pleterski was arrested by Durham Regional Police in May 2024, facing charges of fraud and money laundering related to the funds received from investors, which are yet to be adjudicated. Pleterski’s trial is scheduled for October in Toronto.