Two brothers pleaded guilty last year in the US state of Minnesota, where a family was held at gunpoint and robbed of $8 million worth of crypto assets. According to the federal prosecutor’s office, Isiah Angelo Garcia and Raymond Christian Garcia made a statement admitting to the charge of interfering with commerce by robbery. This charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each defendant.
Accusations in the prosecutor’s file
The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota stated that the two brothers went from Texas to Minnesota on September 19, 2025 and threatened the victim and his family with a gun. According to prosecutors, the attackers forced the victim to transfer crypto assets from their hardware wallets with their online accounts.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen stated that the guilty pleas filed today reflect their determination to hold the defendants accountable for the choices they made.
According to the investigation file, the victim’s wife and son were detained in the family home for approximately nine hours. The victim was taken to a family cabin about three hours away, where he was forced to transfer $8 million worth of crypto.
Police intervention and evidence
The incident came to light after the victim’s son was able to call for emergency help. That call reached Washington County sheriff’s deputies. During the subsequent investigation, a rifle and a hunting rifle were found. It was reported that security camera footage and other evidence also linked the brothers to the incident.
In their guilty plea statements, the defendants also admitted that they threatened the victims with firearms in order to rob them. It was reported that the two brothers agreed to pay compensation of over $8 million. The date of the sentencing hearings has not been announced yet.
Increase in attacks targeting crypto holders
This case also points to a broader picture of physical attacks and kidnappings targeting crypto asset holders. Blockchain security company CertiK announced in its assessment published in February that crypto-related attacks and hijacking incidents increased by 75% in 2025 compared to the previous year. It was stated that the estimated loss from such events in the first four months of 2026 reached 101 million dollars.
Mini dictionary: A hardware wallet is a physical wallet that allows crypto assets to be stored on a device independent of an internet connection. CertiK is a cyber security company that conducts security reviews and incident tracking for blockchain projects.
In May, an indictment was filed in the United States against three people accused of theft of at least $6.5 million in connection with a series of violent robberies targeting crypto holders. According to prosecutors, these people entered homes pretending to be delivery drivers and forced victims to transfer crypto.
Trend attracting attention on an international scale
The increase in such attacks against crypto asset owners also draws attention in Europe. Minister Representative Jean Didier Berger, who serves before the Minister of Internal Affairs in France, said during Paris Blockchain Week in April that preventive steps were taken against these attacks and a prevention platform was launched, to which thousands of people registered.
The latest development in Minnesota marks the latest in prosecutors’ broader fight against organized and armed crime targeting crypto holders.
