- Three Tennessee men posed as delivery workers to rob crypto holders across California.
- One victim was forced at gunpoint to transfer $6.5 million from his crypto accounts live.
- Defendants face up to life in prison on kidnapping conspiracy charges if convicted on all counts.
A federal grand jury in San Francisco has indicted three men from Tennessee on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempted robbery, and attempted kidnapping following a coordinated violent crime spree specifically targeting cryptocurrency holders across California.
Elijah Armstrong, 21, Nino Chindavanh, 21, and Jayden Rucker, 25, all from Tennessee, are accused of traveling across state lines to rob cryptocurrency owners in San Francisco, San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Los Angeles. All three are currently in federal custody.
How They Did It
The three men posed as delivery workers to gain access to victims’ homes. Once inside, they used firearms, duct tape, and zip ties to restrain their victims.
In the most severe incident detailed in the indictment, a victim was forced at gunpoint to log into his cryptocurrency accounts while a co-conspirator transferred approximately $6.5 million directly to a wallet under their control.
Armstrong and Rucker were arrested in Los Angeles on December 31, 2025. Chindavanh was arrested in Sunnyvale nine days earlier on December 22, 2025.
What Federal Prosecutors Said
United States Attorney Craig Missakian described the scheme as sophisticated, brazen, violent, and dangerous. “These individuals, as alleged, terrorized their victims in the hopes of stealing vast sums of cryptocurrency,” Missakian said. “We will not let our guard down and continue to do all we can to ensure this does not happen again.”
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What They Face
If convicted on all counts the defendants would face serious federal penalties. Each count of conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted kidnapping carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The conspiracy to commit kidnapping charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Armstrong and Rucker are scheduled to appear before US Magistrate Judge Thomas Hixson on May 12 for appointment of counsel. Chindavanh is scheduled for a status hearing before US District Judge Trina Thompson on June 26.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Bigger Pattern
This case is not isolated. Physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders have surged 41% in the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to blockchain security firm CertiK, which documented 34 verified incidents globally between January and April resulting in approximately $101 million in losses.
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