Texas Brothers Charged in Armed Kidnapping and $8M Crypto Heist

Two Texas brothers, Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, have been charged with armed kidnapping and robbery after allegedly holding a Minnesota family hostage for $8 million in cryptocurrency. The violent nine-hour ordeal began on September 19 in Grant, Minnesota, when the brothers ambushed Victim 1 at gunpoint while he was taking out the trash.

The Garcias forced the victim into his garage, bound his hands with zip ties, and then entered the home to restrain his wife and adult son at gunpoint. Isiah Garcia allegedly pressured the father to transfer large sums of cryptocurrency to a wallet controlled by Raymond Garcia. The situation escalated when the brothers discovered additional funds, compelling Victim 1 to drive three hours to retrieve a cryptocurrency hard wallet while his family remained hostage.

Authorities described the crime as a severe violation of community safety, noting its timing during a local homecoming game. The case highlights the risks associated with high-value cryptocurrency holdings and the extreme measures criminals may take to access them.