Three men indicted over violent $6.5 million crypto robbery plot in California

WorldBusiness & Finance
13 May 2026 • 3:11 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Three men indicted over violent $6.5 million crypto robbery plot in California

  • Three men from Tennessee, Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh, and Jayden Rucker, have been indicted and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping following a series of violent incidents targeting cryptocurrency owners in California.
  • The trio allegedly travelled from Tennessee to the Greater Los Angeles area, where they were arrested in December 2025, in connection with the crimes.
  • Prosecutors stated the defendants posed as delivery drivers to gain access to victims' homes, subsequently using firearms, duct tape, and zip ties to assault and tie up individuals.
  • In one specific robbery, a victim was forced at gunpoint to sign into their cryptocurrency accounts, resulting in approximately $6.5 million being transferred to a wallet controlled by the co-conspirators.
  • U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian described the alleged scheme as 'sophisticated, brazen, violent, and dangerous,' with the FBI emphasising their commitment to bringing such organised criminal activity to justice.

IN FULL

View Original Article