Federal officials have taken control of a case in Detroit after a man who was gifted $100,000 from a YouTuber claimed he was kidnapped, robbed, and left tied up in a burned-out vehicle.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) confirmed it has taken over the investigation, which was initially handled by Detroit police. The case centers on 60-year-old Curtis Dixon, who was reportedly found hog-tied inside his SUV on the city’s east side last Monday. The vehicle had been set on fire.
Dixon made headlines in August when he received $100,000 from MD Motivator, a YouTuber known for rewarding acts of kindness. The influencer had posed as a blind man in need, and Dixon offered him money despite having little himself.
From YouTube gift to kidnapping claims
Just over a week later, Dixon told authorities he was lured to an area near Mt. Elliot and Nevada, where he was kidnapped, driven to multiple ATMs to withdraw money, beaten, and tied up before his SUV was torched. Witnesses reported finding him restrained inside the vehicle.
While investigators have noted inconsistencies in his account, the ATF is treating the case as possible arson, kidnapping, and extortion. Sources told FOX 2 that Dixon is currently staying at an undisclosed location as the federal probe continues.
This isn’t the only act of kindness that MD Motivator has done in Detroit, Michigan. In early September, he teamed up with YouTuber IShowSpeed to give away a car to a family in need.
At the time of writing, Speed is on a 35-day nonstop tour around the US, where he’s stopping in 25 different states around the country.
