Three men indicted for violent crypto robberies across California
Three men have been federally indicted for a violent robbery scheme targeting cryptocurrency holders across California. Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh, and Jayden Rucker face charges of robbery, kidnapping, and conspiracy after posing as delivery workers to access victims’ homes. The trio allegedly carried out a series of brazen attacks, using firearms, duct tape, and zip ties to restrain and assault victims. In one incident, a San Francisco resident was forced to transfer $10 million in Bitcoin and $3 million in Ethereum. Another victim was robbed of $6.5 million in cryptocurrency at gunpoint.
Federal prosecutors described the scheme as sophisticated, violent, and highly dangerous. The men were arrested in late December 2025—Chindavanh in Sunnyvale on the 22nd, and Armstrong and Rucker in Los Angeles on the 31st. The charges carry severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment and fines of up to $250,000 per count.
The indictment follows a string of high-value cryptocurrency thefts linked to the group. If convicted, the men could face decades in prison. The case highlights the risks of violent crime in digital asset transactions.
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