A Detroit man who became an internet good Samaritan and received more than $100,000 in donations was later kidnapped, carjacked and tied up by a group that included his own nephew, according to federal prosecutors. Four of the five defendants have now pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy and federal firearms charges tied to the Sept. 1, 2025 attack.
Roland Chatmon, 37, of Detroit — the victim's nephew — along with Leica Lopez Martinez, 33, of Lake Orion, Ieasha Stroman, 38, of Pontiac, and Dneiqua Stroman, 43, of Pontiac, all pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy and federal firearms offenses, according to The Detroit News. A fifth defendant, 54-year-old Kenneth Anderson of Pontiac, had previously pleaded guilty to money laundering for his role in the scheme.
The case traces back to August 2025, when the victim, identified in reporting as Curtis Dixon, appeared in a viral video after offering to help someone in need. A social media influencer subsequently raised more than $100,000 for Dixon through a crowdfunding campaign and gifted him a new vehicle and other items, according to CBS News Detroit.
A Plan Hatched Behind Bars
Federal prosecutors said that after learning of his uncle's windfall, Chatmon discussed it with his brother, who was incarcerated at the time, and the men allegedly hatched a plan to steal Dixon's money. A recorded jailhouse call reportedly captured Chatmon and his brother developing the scheme, per CBS News Detroit.
On Sept. 1, 2025, Dixon was approached by Lopez Martinez, who allegedly lured him into giving her a ride by claiming she needed one, the Detroit News reports. He was then carjacked at gunpoint, tied up and placed in the trunk of his own vehicle. The group allegedly drove him to ATMs, assaulting him while forcing withdrawals from his accounts and demanding more money.
Home Invasion, a Bathtub and a Burning Truck
Dixon reportedly offered the group his safe in an apparent effort to end the ordeal. The group then drove to his house, where Chatmon and Dneiqua Stroman allegedly broke in and stole the safe. According to prosecutors, the suspects tied up Dixon's wife and left her in the bathtub during the break-in.
The attackers allegedly set fire to Dixon's GMC Yukon Denali and left him bound on the ground, according to the Detroit News. The group also reportedly met with Anderson, who helped move money from Dixon's Cash App account, according to the outlet's account of the case.
Investigation Built on Jailhouse Calls and Cellphone Data
Investigators pieced together the case through a combination of jailhouse phone calls, cellphone location data and surveillance footage, the Detroit News reports. On Sept. 25, 2025, ATF agents executed search warrants at five residences across Detroit, Rochester Hills and Pontiac, arresting all five suspects.
Chatmon, Lopez Martinez, Ieasha Stroman and Dneiqua Stroman each face up to life in prison, with a minimum term of seven years, according to authorities cited by the Detroit News. Anderson, who pleaded guilty to money laundering, was previously sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution for his part in the conspiracy.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan confirmed that five defendants pleaded guilty in connection with the kidnapping and robbery, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of Michigan. Sentencing for the remaining defendants is set for February 2027 and March 2027, per CBS News Detroit's reporting.
