Three Tennessee Men Indicted Over $6.5 Million Crypto Robbery Spree

A federal grand jury has indicted three Tennessee men over an alleged crypto robbery spree, including one incident where a victim was forced at gunpoint to surrender $6.5 million in digital assets.

Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh, and Jayden Rucker face conspiracy and kidnapping charges. 

Tennessee Trio Hunted Crypto Holders

According to the press release, the defendants traveled from Tennessee and posed as delivery workers to enter victims’ homes. Investigators say the crew used guns, 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 individuals in San Francisco, San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Los Angeles in efforts to steal cryptocurrency from the victims,” the press release read.

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Prosecutors detailed one incident where the alleged attackers forced one victim to log into his cryptocurrency accounts at gunpoint. A co-conspirator then transferred roughly $6.5 million from those wallets to addresses controlled by the group.

Armstrong and Rucker were arrested in Los Angeles on December 31. Chindavanh was detained earlier that month in Sunnyvale. All three remain in federal custody.

US Attorney Craig H. Missakian commented in the indictment announcement.

“These individuals, as alleged, terrorized their victims in the hopes of stealing vast sums of cryptocurrency. The scheme was not only sophisticated, it was brazen, violent, and dangerous,” he said.

If convicted, the defendants could face up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines for charges including Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery, Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery, and Attempted Kidnapping. The Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping charge carries a potential life sentence.

The development comes amid a sharp rise in physical crimes targeting cryptocurrency holders. Blockchain security firm CertiK documented 34 verified physical attacks on cryptocurrency holders between January and April 2026, a 41% rise year-over-year. CertiK projects that 2026 will close with around 130 wrench attacks if the current pace holds.

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