Two Texas brothers are facing a collection of federal charges after allegedly carrying out a nine-hour kidnapping in Minnesota, which resulted in the duo stealing $8 million in cryptocurrency.
According to the Department of Justice, Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, and his brother, Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, traveled from Waller, Texas, to Minnesota earlier this month. They allegedly held a family at gunpoint, coerced them into transferring millions in cryptocurrency, and then fled across state lines.
The scheme spiraled into a public safety crisis as the crime not only traumatized the victims but forced Mahtomedi Public Schools to cancel its homecoming football game out of concern for student safety nearby.
Federal investigators described the details of the case.
The Garcia brothers reportedly ambushed a man taking out his trash, tied up his family with zip ties, and held them hostage at gunpoint for approximately 9 hours with an AR-15 and a shotgun. Over the course of the day, they forced the victim to transfer millions in digital currency while his wife and son lay restrained on the floor of their home.
Law enforcement pieced together the criminal plot using surveillance footage and receipts, including a receipt for a Motel 6 room the duo rented and a Wendy’s fast food receipt. Both brothers were arrested in Texas last week, and prosecutors are now pushing to keep them behind bars until trial.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson did not mince words when describing the case:
“A violent kidnapping that stole $8 million and silenced a homecoming game is not just a crime. It is a blow to the sense of safety of everyone in Minnesota,” Thompson said. “This is not normal. Minnesotans should not accept wild violence and thievery as normal. Every Minnesotan deserves to live in peace.”
Following their arrest, Isiah admitted to his involvement in the kidnapping and theft, providing detailed accounts of the crime to detectives.
As of the time of publication, investigators have not disclosed how the two men found out that the victim had such a large cache of digital currency, or why they chose that specific victim over others closer in proximity.
The FBI and Washington County Sheriff’s Office are leading the investigation, with both agencies praising the bravery of the victims who were held at gunpoint for hours.
“This office, together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in Minnesota and in Texas, will work tirelessly to hold accountable those responsible for this horrific crime,” added FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin Winston.
