Two brothers have been federally charged in connection with a harrowing kidnapping and armed robbery that took place last week in Mahtomedi. Raymond Christian Garcia, aged 23, and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, face serious charges, including kidnapping and a cryptocurrency heist, in federal court. Washington County prosecutors have also filed multiple counts against the brothers—three counts of kidnapping, three counts of burglary, and one count of aggravated robbery each.
Authorities revealed that the Garcia brothers held a family at gunpoint for a staggering nine hours, ultimately stealing an estimated $8 million in cryptocurrency. In light of the intense manhunt for the suspects, Mahtomedi Public Schools made the decision to cancel its homecoming football game, prioritizing community safety during the ongoing investigation.
The ordeal began when a man called 911 on Friday evening, reporting that his family had been taken hostage by two armed assailants later identified as the Garcia brothers. According to the 911 caller’s account, his father was attacked while taking out the trash; the Garcia brothers confronted him with an AR-15 style rifle and a shotgun, forced him into the garage, and zip-tied his hands. Following this, the brothers proceeded to wake up the man’s wife and adult son, restraining them in the same manner.
Prosecutors detailed that, while Raymond Garcia held the woman and son captive, Isiah Garcia coerced the father into logging into his cryptocurrency accounts at gunpoint. Isiah demanded that the victim transfer large sums of cryptocurrency into a wallet he provided. A third party informed Isiah that the victim possessed additional cryptocurrency, prompting him to force the victim to drive three hours to the family’s cabin to retrieve the assets stored on a hard drive.
Overall, the brothers managed to extract an extraordinary $8 million worth of cryptocurrency from the victim. As Isiah Garcia and the victim headed back to Grant, the victim’s son seized the opportunity to call 911. When deputies arrived, they discovered the mother and son zip-tied inside the house, and spotted Raymond Garcia fleeing out the back door.
While conducting a search of the area, law enforcement uncovered a suitcase containing a disassembled AR-15-style rifle, ammunition, clothing, and beverages. During the response, officers reportedly passed by Isiah Garcia and the victim unknowingly. Isiah had parked a truck nearby and walked toward a middle school, which led to a heightened law enforcement presence and the cancellation of the homecoming event.
Investigators linked the brothers to a rental vehicle in Houston, Texas, utilizing a Wendy’s receipt found in the suitcase as a key piece of evidence. This vehicle was tracked back to the Garcia brothers’ residence in Waller, Texas. The brothers were arrested on Monday in Texas, where Isiah reportedly confessed while in custody.
Both Raymond and Isiah Garcia are scheduled to make their initial appearances in federal court on Thursday, facing grave repercussions for their alleged actions.
