Texas brothers hit with federal kidnapping charges in Grant crypto case; feds value theft at $8M
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed federal kidnapping charges against Texas brothers Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, in a Sept. 19 Grant, Minnesota, home invasion, valuing the stolen cryptocurrency at $8 million—far above the $72,000 cited in county filings. Authorities say the men bound a family with zip ties, used an AR-15-style rifle and a shotgun, and forced transfers at the Grant home and a Jacobson cabin before their arrests in Texas; they face the federal counts in addition to state charges of kidnapping, first-degree burglary, and first-degree aggravated robbery, with a first federal court appearance set for Thursday.
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Texas brothers federally charged in $8M cryptocurrency kidnapping in MN
New information:
- Federal kidnapping charges filed against Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
- Federal authorities value the stolen cryptocurrency at $8 million, far higher than the $72,000 cited in the county complaint.
- Defendants’ first appearance in federal court scheduled for Thursday.
- Quote from Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson condemning the crime’s impact on community safety.
- Federal charges are in addition to existing state charges (kidnapping, first-degree burglary, first-degree aggravated robbery).
Texas brothers charged in cryptocurrency kidnapping, robbery in MN
New information:
- Suspects named: Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24
- Each charged via warrant with 3 counts kidnapping, 3 counts first-degree burglary, 1 count first-degree aggravated robbery
- Incident occurred Sept. 19 in Grant; 911 call at ~4:45 p.m. after initial abduction around 7:45 a.m.
- Victims bound with zip ties; bedroom door tied shut with wire; AR-15-style rifle and shotgun used
- Forced crypto transfers totaling over $72,000: ~$36,000 at the Grant home and ~$36,000 at a family cabin in Jacobson, MN
- Suspects were on the phone with an unknown third party directing the transfers; victim suspects prior data breach
- Washington County issued a shelter-in-place during the search; Mahtomedi homecoming football game was canceled
- Isiah Garcia arrested Sept. 21 in Texas driving the same rental car; GPS data placed vehicle near the victim’s home and a Roseville motel
- Raymond Garcia reported his AR-15 'stolen' Sept. 22 in Waller, TX; firearm box found at his home matched the AR-15 recovered in Minnesota
- AR-15 recovered in a suitcase near the Grant home; shotgun discarded in a nearby field; both men in custody in Texas when complaints filed