Man Drugs His Father’s Tea to Steal $400,000 in Crypto

A 24-year-old man from Bethesda, Maryland took extreme measures to get his hands on his father’s cryptocurrency holdings, which were worth $400,000 at the time.

In a shocking fit of desperation, Liam Ghershony, who was struggling with drug abuse at the time, decided to poison his father with depressants so he could  gain access to daddy’s funds via his cellphone, The Washington Post reports.

It’s a grim story that shows drug abuse and obsessing over cryptocurrencies can create a lethal mix. In fact, a number of rehab clinics are starting to offer addicts a way to control their obsession with cryptocurrencies specifically.

“It didn’t have to be like this!” Ghershony wrote in a note he left behind, according to WaPo, after dosing his father’s tea with a benzodiazepine, a class of drugs related to tranquilizers and Xanax. “I’m gonna give you the best retirement.”Silver Linings

Fortunately, first responders found his father collapsed on the floor two days later. He later recovered after a four-day stint in the hospital.

The junior Ghershony and his father were able to cash in $350,000 after tax through a crypto investment account back in 2018. But his problematic use of drugs started to take off afterward.

While ingesting copious amounts of benzodiazepines, Adderrall, and cocaine, Ghershony started to become increasingly paranoid about the joint crypto holdings. His father recalled to WaPo that Ghershony used to tell him that he needed to sell.

The 24-year-old realized far too late that his own tolerance to benzos was a whole lot higher than his father’s. He was only aiming to knock his father out to sleep — not to hospitalize him, he later told the Post.

Ghershony, who had no prior criminal record, pleaded guilty to a first-degree assault charge after reaching an agreement. He spent 125 days in jail, according to the newspaper, and two subsequent months in drug and mental health rehab.

READ MORE: He spiked his father’s tea to access $400,000 in cryptocurrency. His dad awoke two days later. [The Washington Post]

More on cryptocurrencies: Facebook Is Reportedly Trying to Sell Off Its Botched Cryptocurrency

02

‘The shoppers staff are always SO confrontational about theft it’s wild.’

A user on TikTok is calling out Shoppers Drug Mart after claiming that she was accused of stealing from the store when buying around $80 worth of products.

In a video with over 117,000 views as of Saturday, TikTok user Leah Zecchino (@zecchinoleah) recounts the experience, which she says left her feeling “humiliated.”@zecchinoleah

I bought the loaf of bread, and waved the receipt at her as she watched me leave the store♬ original sound – Leah Zecchino

According to Zecchino, she had purchased around $80 worth of items from the beauty counter before continuing to walk around the store, as she needed a loaf of bread.

After a short time, a woman approached her asking to see the contents of her bag.

“Basically, like, ‘I know you f*cking stole,’” she says.

Zecchino responded by showing the woman her receipt. Apparently, this was not enough for the worker.

“She makes me dump my bag out in the middle of the store on the ground, and that’s not good enough for her,” Zecchino recounts. “She goes, ‘Let me see your pockets.’ I’m like, ‘There’s nothing in my pockets.’ She’s like, ‘Your other pockets.’ So I’m, like, lifting up my shirt to show her. My bag is on the ground. Like, I did not f*cking steal!”

This isn’t the first time that Shoppers Drug Mart has gone viral for appearing to falsely accuse shoppers of criminal behavior. In 2022, a user on TikTok went viral after alleging he was racially profiled by employees of the store when he was mistaken for another Asian person whom the TikToker asserts “[didn’t] look like him at all.”

On Zecchino’s video, users expressed their disappointment with the chain for their handling of the situation.

“Return the stuff and file a complaint with corporate office,” a user said.

“You should’ve made her pick up all the items and return them all with the receipt you already showed her,” another offered.

“I’d call and complain for sure,” a third stated. “I understand you not wanting to return and rebuy, but I’d complain to corporate.”

A few users claimed they had experienced similar behaviors from store employees.

“I get followed by security/employees the second I walk into Shoppers,” alleged a commenter.

“They follow me around every time I am in there because I have OCD skin picking and they stereotype me even when I’m with my child,” shared a second.

“I’ve had so many terrible experiences at Shoppers,” detailed a third. “Staff and security always think I’m stealing, and follow me around. Sorry this happened to you.”

The Daily Dot reached out to Shoppers Drug Mart and Zecchino via email.

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*First Published: Aug 12, 2023, 8:29 am CDTBraden Bjella

Braden Bjella is a culture writer. His work can be found in Mixmag, Electronic Beats, Schon! magazine, and more.

03

Thousands march in North Macedonia over claims cancer hospital staff stole drugs meant for patients

SKOPJE, North Macedonia — Thousands of people protested Monday outside the government headquarters in North Macedonia ‘s capital, Skopje, over allegations that patients at a state cancer hospital missed life-saving treatment because staff were stealing the expensive drugs to sell on the black market.

Chanting “Murderers,” demonstrators demanded the resignation of the country’s health minister and the hospital management. Among the protesters were several people who said their relatives had died after being given placebos instead of proper chemotherapy because the drugs had been stolen.

“My mother had breast cancer and her condition worsened a week after she was admitted to the clinic,” one young man told the crowd. “Unfortunately, she didn’t survive.” The man, who didn’t give his name, described the hospital’s alleged behavior “monstrous.”

The government and hospital officials have sought to assure the public that cancer patients are not at risk, while prosecutors have launched an investigation into the claims.

Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said Monday that he “understands the anger and indignation of the people,” but added that the entire state health system should not be blamed.

The scandal broke several months ago, following a string of media reports into the alleged scheme. In May, police arrested a nurse at the Skopje hospital who was allegedly caught on CCTV smuggling cancer drugs out of the building, and accused her of stealing them for sale on the black market.

On Friday, police raided the hospital and the homes of two staff members, seizing documents, computers and data drives. No arrests were made and no charges have been filed.

Health Minister Fatmir Mexhiti and hospital director Violeta Klisarova told reporters in Skopje Monday that “patients are safe and there is no manipulation with the therapy.”

Klisarova said that since the nurse’s arrest hospital protocols have been revised and staff access to cancer drugs has been restricted.

“I will do everything in my power to clear up this case,” said Mexhiti, adding that “The ministry will work closely with law enforcement to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.”

North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski voiced hope Monday that the investigation would lead to “appropriate punishment” of those found guilty, adding that the state health system has failed the public.

“It is high time that the system confirms we are capable of dealing with severe forms of organized crime and corruption, and of ending the culture of impunity for serious violations of the laws,” Pendarovski’s office said in a statement.

The conservative main opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, called for the government to resign — a demand it has been pressing for months due to a dispute over proposed constitutional changes that would expand the official list of ethnic minorities in the country.