Two brothers from Texas have been arrested and charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a Minnesota family last week, during which they reportedly held the victims at gunpoint for hours and stole approximately $8 million in cryptocurrency, according to federal prosecutors.
Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, face federal kidnapping charges after allegedly breaking into a home in Grant, Minnesota, on September 19. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota reported that both brothers are also facing state-level charges including armed kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and first-degree burglary. As of now, the brothers’ attorneys have not commented on the charges.
According to prosecutors, the incident began when the brothers, armed with an AR-15-style rifle and a shotgun, confronted the family patriarch as he was taking out the garbage. They allegedly forced him into the garage, where they bound his hands with zip ties. Following this, they entered the house and woke up his wife and adult son at gunpoint, binding them as well and instructing them to lie on the floor.
As the family was held captive, Raymond Garcia allegedly kept the wife and son at gunpoint while Isiah Garcia compelled the husband to log into his cryptocurrency accounts. Prosecutors state that the brothers demanded several large transfers of digital currency into a wallet specified by Isiah Garcia. The husband reportedly observed the brothers making phone calls to a third party who seemed to be assisting them with information on the cryptocurrency accounts and transfers. The criminal complaints, however, do not clarify whether this third party has been apprehended.
Through this third party, the brothers were informed of additional cryptocurrency assets belonging to the victim, prompting further demands for money. The husband told the captors these funds were stored in a hard drive-style wallet located at the family’s cabin, roughly three hours away in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Allegedly, Isiah Garcia, armed with the shotgun, forced the husband into his truck to drive to the cabin, while Raymond remained in the home with the wife and son.
During a brief moment when Raymond Garcia stepped away, the son managed to dial 911. When Raymond returned, he was reportedly unarmed, leading to his eventual flight from the scene as law enforcement approached. Isiah, upon seeing police, turned the truck around, parked it, and fled on foot while disposing of the shotgun, which was later found by police.
The brothers were traced back to Texas after a Wendy’s receipt was discovered in their luggage, which police claimed contained various items, including a disassembled AR-15-style rifle, ammunition, and clothing.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson condemned the violent nature of the crime, noting that such behavior should not be deemed acceptable in Minnesota. He highlighted the broader implications of the incident, stressing that citizens deserve to live without fear of rampant violence and crime.
After their arrest, Isiah Garcia reportedly admitted to the authorities that he and his brother had traveled to Minnesota with the intention of abducting the family and forcing the husband to assist them in obtaining cryptocurrency.
A recent analysis by NBC News revealed a disturbing trend: cryptocurrency-related kidnappings have risen annually since 2019. The report indicated 17 such incidents in 2024 alone, marking a significant increase compared to past years, and the trend appears to be accelerating. Additionally, this analysis noted a worrying global pattern, with incidents of attacks on crypto holders recorded in 44 different countries.
