Five convicted in kidnapping of man gifted $100K by MDMotivator

Five people have been convicted in a kidnapping conspiracy that targeted Curtis Dixon, a Detroit man who had received more than $100,000 and a new vehicle from YouTuber Zach Dereniowski, known online as MDMotivator, according to a report from the outlet that covered the case.

The viral act of kindness

Dixon gained attention in August 2025 after he helped a person who appeared to be blind. Dereniowski rewarded him with more than $100,000, a Yukon Denali and other gifts. Dixon and his wife were later kidnapped and robbed in what authorities say was a plot aimed at the money.

Guilty pleas

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced on November 4 that Roland Chatmon, Leica Lopez Martinez, Ieasha Stroman and Dneiqua Stroman pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy and federal firearms offenses. A fifth defendant, Kenneth Anderson, had earlier pleaded guilty to money laundering for his part in the case.

The Department of Justice said Chatmon, who is Dixon’s nephew, organized the conspiracy after learning about the money. He allegedly talked about the windfall with his brother during a recorded jail call, then recruited others to help carry out the robbery.

What happened

On September 1, 2025, one of the conspirators allegedly lured Dixon by pretending to need a ride. Once he arrived at a Detroit home, the group carjacked him at gunpoint, tied him up and drove him around while trying to withdraw money from his accounts.

The group then took Dixon to his home, where they allegedly stole a safe and tied up his wife. Dixon was later left beside his truck, which the conspirators set on fire. Anderson helped move money from Dixon’s Cash App account into accounts controlled by the group.

Sentencing

The four defendants who recently pleaded guilty face mandatory minimum sentences of seven years in federal prison and a maximum of life. Anderson was previously sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution. Sentencing for the others is scheduled for February and March 2027.

Dixon told WXYZ that he has still not recovered all of his money and has struggled to find housing since the attack. “I’d rather be broke and happy than rich and have to look over my shoulder,” he said.

Source: dexerto.com

Image: dexerto.com