Texas Brothers Face Federal Charges for $8 Million Crypto Kidnapping in Minnesota
Washington County, Minnesota — Two brothers from Texas have been federally charged after allegedly holding a Minnesota family hostage for nine hours at gunpoint and stealing approximately $8 million worth of cryptocurrency, federal prosecutors announced on September 25, 2025.
Raymond and Isiah Garcia are accused of orchestrating a high-stakes kidnapping and theft that targeted a family in the Twin Cities area. According to authorities, the brothers forced the family to comply with their demands during the extended hostage situation, eventually taking possession of a substantial amount of cryptocurrency assets.
Federal prosecutors revealed that law enforcement responded to the incident where the family was held at gunpoint for approximately nine hours in Washington County. The suspects exploited the digital nature of cryptocurrency — a form of virtual currency stored in digital wallets — to facilitate their alleged crime, making the scale and execution of the heist particularly complex.
Initially, state reports cited a lower figure related to the robbery, but investigations by federal authorities clarified the value of the stolen crypto assets to be near $8 million. The enormity of the theft has drawn attention due to the challenges in recovering digital currencies once transferred.
The defendants face multiple federal charges related to kidnapping, robbery, and electronic theft. Authorities are working to locate and potentially recover the stolen assets amid concerns over the cryptocurrency’s location across different digital jurisdictions.
The case highlights growing vulnerabilities involving cryptocurrency crimes and the potential for such assets to be involved in violent criminal activity. Experts emphasize the difficulty in tracing and reclaiming stolen cryptocurrency, which is unlike traditional tangible assets.
This ongoing investigation underscores the coordinated efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies striving to address complex digital crimes posing new challenges for public safety and legal systems.
Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul and Minnesota Public Radio News have provided extensive coverage of the case as it develops. The Garcia brothers’ arraignment and further legal proceedings are expected to occur in the coming weeks.