Three Tennessee men indicted in $6.5M crypto robbery spree
Three Tennessee men were indicted on conspiracy and kidnapping charges after allegedly forcing a California victim at gunpoint to transfer about $6.5 million in cryptocurrency.
A federal grand jury has indicted three Tennessee men — Elijah Armstrong, 21; Nino Chindavanh, 21; and Jayden Rucker, 25 — on conspiracy and kidnapping charges in connection with a series of alleged robberies across California that included a transfer of about $6.5 million in cryptocurrency.
Prosecutors say the defendants traveled from Tennessee and posed as delivery workers to gain entry to victims’ homes. Investigators allege the group used firearms, zip ties and duct tape to restrain occupants. In one incident, attackers forced a victim to log into cryptocurrency accounts at gunpoint while a co-conspirator transferred roughly $6.5 million from those wallets to addresses controlled by the group. The indictment names incidents in San Francisco, San Jose, Sunnyvale and Los Angeles.
The men face counts that include Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery, Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery, Attempted Kidnapping and Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping. Some counts carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines; the conspiracy-to-commit-kidnapping charge carries a potential life sentence.
Armstrong and Rucker were arrested in Los Angeles on Dec. 31. Chindavanh was detained earlier in December in Sunnyvale. All three remain in federal custody and the investigation is ongoing.
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian, in the indictment announcement, described the alleged scheme as one that “terrorized their victims in the hopes of stealing vast sums of cryptocurrency. The scheme was not only sophisticated, it was brazen, violent, and dangerous.”
The indictments arrive amid an increase in physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders. Blockchain security firm CertiK reported 34 verified physical attacks on crypto holders from January through April 2026, a 41% rise from the same period a year earlier, and projected roughly 130 so-called wrench attacks for 2026 if the pace continues. Wrench attacks refer to incidents in which assailants use force or threats to compel victims to hand over digital assets or access credentials.
Federal prosecutors say they will continue the investigation as part of efforts to hold suspects accountable for violent crimes tied to digital asset theft.
