Michigan nephew, 4 others convicted for abducting, beating uncle who was gifted $100K in viral video

A Michigan nephew and four others were convicted of abducting and ruthlessly beating his uncle — then leaving him tied up next to his burning truck — in a plot to steal $100,000 he received for helping a seemingly blind influencer.

Roland Chatmon, 37, pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy and federal gun charges related to the September 2025 attack on his uncle Curtis Dixon, federal prosecutors in Detroit announced Wednesday.

Leica Lopez Martinez, 33, Ieasha Stroman, 38, and Dneiqua Stroman, 43, face the same charges while Kenneth Anderson, 54, previously pleaded guilty to money laundering for his role, prosecutors said.

Five people pleaded guilty in Detroit for kidnapping Curtis Dixon to steal $100,000 he received after going viral on TikTok.

Five people pleaded guilty in Detroit for kidnapping Curtis Dixon (L) to steal $100,000 he received after going viral on TikTok. ABC/wxyz

Investigators found the conspiracy began in August 2025 when Dixon went viral for offering to help Zach Dereniowski, a TikTok star known as MDMotivator with more than 28 million followers, who was pretending to be blind for a video.

Dixon — who was suffering from financial woes at the time and was planning to pawn his wedding ring — received $1,000 from the influencer for his good deed.

Dereniowski then organized a GoFundMe for Dixon that quickly raised more than $100,000, and he received a new truck and “other gifts,” prosecutors said.

Chatmon then contacted his brother in jail, and the two hatched a plan to steal Dixon’s windfall — even laughing about carrying out the plot against their uncle, investigators said.

The group struck on Sept. 1, 2025, when one of the suspects tricked Dixon into giving them a ride as Chatmon guided him by phone.

Roland Chatmon, 37, pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy and federal gun charges related to the September 2025 attack on his uncle Curtis Dixon

Roland Chatmon, 37, pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy and federal gun charges related to the September 2025 attack on his uncle. ABC/wxyz

The rest of the group ambushed Dixon at gunpoint when he pulled his vehicle over.

Dixon was hog-tied and taken hostage in his own truck, where he was repeatedly pistol whipped and beaten as the crew drove around to access his bank accounts.

“After successfully making cash withdrawals, the conspirators wanted more money, and the victim offered up a safe at his house with some cash,” prosecutors said.

“The conspirators drove to the victim’s house and, with the victim still tied up in his truck, Chatmon and Dneiqua Stroman broke into his house and stole the safe.”

Leica Lopez Martinez, 33, Ieasha Stroman, 38, and Dneiqua Stroman, 43, face the same charges while Kenneth Anderson, 54, previously pleaded guilty to money laundering for his role, prosecutors said.

Leica Lopez Martinez, 33, Ieasha Stroman, 38, and Dneiqua Stroman, 43, face the same charges while Kenneth Anderson, 54, previously pleaded guilty to money laundering for his role, prosecutors said. ABC/wxyz

During the break-in, the violent thieves also “tied up Chatmon’s aunt and left her in a bathtub.”

After dumping Dixon on the ground next to his truck, the attackers torched the vehicle and took off, according to prosecutors.

They then linked up with Anderson, who helped move cash from Dixon’s Cash App account into their own accounts.

Within a month of the attack, ATF agents raided five homes across Detroit, Rochester Hills and Pontiac and took all five suspects into custody, prosecutors said.

Dixon was hog-tied and taken hostage in his own truck, where he was repeatedly pistol whipped and beaten as the crew drove around to access his bank accounts.

Dixon was hog-tied and taken hostage in his own truck, where he was repeatedly pistol whipped and beaten as the crew drove around to access his bank accounts. ABC/wxyz

After pleading guilty Wednesday, Chatmon, Lopez Martinez and the two Stromans face at least seven years in federal prison and up to life behind bars.

All four are scheduled to be sentenced in early 2027.

Anderson, who pleaded guilty earlier, received probation and was ordered to pay restitution, according to prosecutors.

After dumping Dixon on the ground next to his truck, the attackers torched the vehicle and took off, according to prosecutors.

After dumping Dixon on the ground next to his truck, the attackers torched the vehicle and took off. ABC/wxyz

Dixon, who said he has not recovered all of the donated money and is now struggling to pay rent, said the hardest part of the ordeal is knowing his own relatives were behind his kidnapping and robbery.

“When I found out it was family, I was so hurt. I couldn’t believe it,” Dixon told WXYZ. “I expected somebody on the streets to do it to me before a family member would.”

With the guilty pleas in hand, Dixon said he’s breathing easier — and counting his blessings that he survived.

“I’d rather be broke and happy, any day. I’d rather be broke and happy than rich and have to look over my shoulder,” he said.

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