Three Tennessee Men Indicted in Alleged $6.5M Crypto Robbery Spree

Highlights:

• Prosecutors indicted three Tennessee men over violent robberies targeting crypto owners across California.
• The suspects allegedly restrained victims at gunpoint and forced them to open crypto accounts.
• The group allegedly stole about $6.5 million in crypto from one victim’s accounts.

U.S. federal prosecutors have indicted three Tennessee men over an alleged violent robbery and kidnapping spree that targeted cryptocurrency owners across California. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California announced the case on May 11, after an indictment was filed on March 31.

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The defendants are Elijah Armstrong, 21, Nino Chindavanh, 21, and Jayden Rucker, 25. Prosecutors said the three men face charges linked to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and attempted kidnapping. The case centers on an alleged plan to steal cryptocurrency from victims in San Francisco, San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Los Angeles.

#FBI CASE UPDATE: Three men have been indicted on robbery, kidnapping, and conspiracy charges related to a $6 million cryptocurrency robbery spree throughout the Bay Area and LA. Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh, and Jayden Rucker – all from Tennessee- were charged on Conspiracy… pic.twitter.com/mIQQKjS3K2

— FBI SanFrancisco (@FBISanFrancisco) May 11, 2026

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey C. Davidson and Jared S. Buszin are prosecuting the case. The investigation involved the FBI, San Francisco Police Department, San Jose Police Department, Sunnyvale Police Department, and Los Angeles Police Department.

Prosecutors Say Victims Were Targeted for Crypto

According to the indictment, the defendants traveled from Tennessee to California to carry out the alleged crimes. Prosecutors said they posed as delivery workers to enter, or try to enter, victims’ homes. Once inside, they allegedly used firearms, duct tape, and zip ties to assault and restrain victims.

In one incident, prosecutors said a victim was forced at gunpoint to sign in to cryptocurrency accounts. A co-conspirator then allegedly transferred about $6.5 million from the victim’s crypto accounts to a wallet controlled by the group. Cryptocurrency wallets are digital tools used to store and transfer crypto assets, and access to them can allow funds to move quickly if criminals obtain account details or force a victim to make a transfer.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian said the accused individuals “terrorized their victims” in an effort to steal large amounts of cryptocurrency. He also called the alleged scheme sophisticated, brazen, violent, and dangerous. FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo said the case involved robbery, kidnapping, and the theft of millions in crypto, adding that such crimes put innocent people at risk.

Arrests and Court Dates Confirmed

Authorities arrested Armstrong and Rucker in Los Angeles on December 31, 2025. They arrested Chindavanh earlier, on December 22, 2025, in Sunnyvale. Chindavanh made his first appearance in federal court in San Francisco on April 14, 2026, while Armstrong and Rucker made their first appearances on May 11, 2026.

All three defendants remain in federal custody. Armstrong and Rucker were scheduled to appear on May 12 for the appointment of counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson. Chindavanh is scheduled to appear on June 26 for a status hearing before U.S. District Judge Trina L. Thompson.

Prosecutors also stressed that an indictment is only an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

Charges Carry Heavy Penalties

If convicted, the defendants could face serious prison terms. Prosecutors said each count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and attempted kidnapping carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The conspiracy to commit kidnapping charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of $250,000. The court will decide any final sentence after reviewing federal sentencing rules and the facts of the case.

This case shows that crypto-related crime goes beyond online hacks and scams. In some cases, criminals may target people directly to force them to hand over account access. Because cryptocurrency transactions can move large amounts of money quickly, law enforcement agencies continue to treat violent crypto theft as a serious public safety issue.

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