A federal grand jury has indicted three Tennessee males over an alleged crypto theft spree, together with one incident the place a sufferer was pressured at gunpoint to give up $6.5 million in digital property.
Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh, and Jayden Rucker face conspiracy and kidnapping expenses.
Tennessee Trio Hunted Crypto Holders
In line with the press launch, the defendants traveled from Tennessee and posed as supply employees to enter victims’ properties. Investigators say the crew used weapons, zip ties, and duct tape to restrain occupants.
“Armstrong, 21, of Tennessee; Chindavanh, 21, of Tennessee; and Rucker, 25, of Tennessee, are alleged to have conspired to kidnap and rob people in San Francisco, San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Los Angeles in efforts to steal cryptocurrency from the victims,” the press launch learn.
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Prosecutors detailed one incident the place the alleged attackers pressured one sufferer to log into his cryptocurrency accounts at gunpoint. A co-conspirator then transferred roughly $6.5 million from these wallets to addresses managed by the group.
Armstrong and Rucker have been arrested in Los Angeles on December 31. Chindavanh was detained earlier that month in Sunnyvale. All three stay in federal custody.
US Legal professional Craig H. Missakian commented within the indictment announcement.
“These people, as alleged, terrorized their victims within the hopes of stealing huge sums of cryptocurrency. The scheme was not solely subtle, it was brazen, violent, and harmful,” he mentioned.
If convicted, the defendants may resist 20 years in jail and $250,000 in fines for expenses together with Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Theft, Tried Hobbs Act Theft, and Tried Kidnapping. The Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping cost carries a possible life sentence.
The event comes amid a pointy rise in bodily crimes concentrating on cryptocurrency holders. Blockchain safety agency CertiK documented 34 verified bodily assaults on cryptocurrency holders between January and April 2026, a 41% rise year-over-year. CertiK tasks that 2026 will shut with round 130 wrench assaults if the present tempo holds.
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