California · Decrypt
According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh
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Prosecutors said the men used firearms, duct tape, and zip ties to assault their victims, binding and restraining them to force disclosure of cryptocurrency account information.
Key facts
- The victim was allegedly bound with duct tape, pistol-whipped and threatened before being forced to transfer $10 million in Bitcoin and $3 million in Ethereum
- Armstrong and Rucker were arrested in Los Angeles on December 31, 2025, while Chindavanh was arrested in Sunnyvale on December 22, 2025
- According to data from cybersecurity firm CertiK, 72 verified incidents occurred globally in 2025, representing a 75% increase from the previous year
- FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo called the alleged conspiracy a “calculated scheme,” adding that the indictments underscored the FBI’s “unwavering commitment to protecting
Summary
Three Tennessee men were indicted by a federal grand jury on conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping charges. The charges stem from an alleged cryptocurrency theft operation where conspirators forced victims at gunpoint to transfer millions in digital assets. One incident saw $6.5 million in cryptocurrency stolen at gunpoint, prosecutors said. Three Tennessee men have been federally indicted on robbery, kidnapping, and conspiracy charges related to an alleged multi-million dollar cryptocurrency theft operation targeting victims across California. According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh, and Jayden Rucker traveled from Tennessee to California and posed as delivery persons to gain access to victims' residences in San Francisco, San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Los Angeles.