Key Takeaways
Authorities alleged attackers used supply disguises to realize entry into victims’ houses.Prosecutors mentioned a sufferer transferred roughly $6.5 million throughout a gunpoint theft.Federal costs embrace theft, kidnapping, and conspiracy counts carrying extreme penalties.
Supply Disguises and Gunpoint Crypto Transfers Detailed
A federal grand jury indicted Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh, and Jayden Rucker on theft, kidnapping, and conspiracy costs tied to a violent theft spree focusing on cryptocurrency homeowners. The U.S. Division of Justice (DOJ) described the case as “a violent theft spree focusing on cryptocurrency homeowners” in a press launch on Might 11.
Prosecutors alleged the lads traveled from Tennessee to California to focus on victims in San Francisco, San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Los Angeles. They allegedly posed as pizza, bundle, and occasional supply staff to influence victims to open their doorways earlier than forcing entry into the residences. Authorities mentioned the attackers carried firearms and used duct tape and zip ties to restrain victims in the course of the robberies. The DOJ said:
“In one of many incidents perpetrated by the conspiracy, the sufferer was pressured at gunpoint to signal into his cryptocurrency accounts so {that a} co-conspirator may switch roughly $6.5 million from his cryptocurrency accounts to a pockets managed by the co-conspirators.”
The indictment alleged the group carried out coordinated home-invasion robberies and tried robberies throughout a number of California cities. Prosecutors mentioned victims have been assaulted, restrained, and threatened inside their houses in the course of the assaults.
Expenses Carry Potential Life Sentence in Federal Courtroom
Chindavanh was arrested in Sunnyvale on Dec. 22, 2025, whereas Armstrong and Rucker have been arrested in Los Angeles on Dec. 31, 2025. Chindavanh appeared in federal courtroom in San Francisco on April 14, 2026. Armstrong and Rucker appeared there on Might 11 and appeared earlier than U.S. Justice of the Peace Decide Thomas S. Hixson on Might 12 for appointment of counsel. Chindavanh is scheduled for a standing listening to on June 26 earlier than U.S. District Decide Trina L. Thompson.
The indictment costs the lads with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act theft, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, tried Hobbs Act theft, and tried kidnapping. The Hobbs Act and tried kidnapping counts every carry as much as 20 years in jail and a $250,000 advantageous. The kidnapping conspiracy rely carries as much as life in jail and a $250,000 advantageous.
United States Legal professional Craig H. Missakian mentioned:
“These people, as alleged, terrorized their victims within the hopes of stealing huge sums of cryptocurrency. The scheme was not solely refined, it was brazen, violent, and harmful.”
Prosecutors alleged the group carried out coordinated home-invasion robberies throughout a number of California cities by disguising themselves as supply staff earlier than forcing victims to unlock cryptocurrency accounts at gunpoint. An indictment is an allegation, and the defendants are presumed harmless until confirmed responsible.
