Three Men Charged in Crypto Wrench Attack Spree
Fhumulani Lukoto
- 2 min read
Image credit: Unsplash
U.S. prosecutors have charged three Tennessee men over an alleged violent robbery and kidnapping spree that targeted cryptocurrency holders in California.
Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh and Jayden Rucker were indicted in federal court in San Francisco. Prosecutors say the group posed as delivery workers to enter or approach victims’ homes, then usedfirearms, duct tape and zip ties to force victims to unlock crypto accounts.
Four Victims Targeted in California From Nov. 22 to Dec. 31
The indictment says the attacks took place between Nov. 22 and Dec. 31 and targeted at least four victims.
In one case, prosecutors say a victim was held at gunpoint and forced to sign into crypto accounts. A co-conspirator then transferred about $6.5 million in digital assets to a wallet controlled by the group.
The alleged spree included attacks in San Francisco, Sunnyvale, San Jose and Los Angeles. One San Francisco victim reportedly lost $13 million in crypto after a violent home invasion.
Suspects Allegedly Posed as Delivery Workers
Prosecutors say the suspects used fake delivery tactics to get close to victims, including suspicious food deliveries, staged package drop-offs and service-related approaches.
The method fits the pattern of a crypto wrench attack, where criminals use physical threats or violence instead of hacking to force victims to hand over private keys, seed phrases or account access.
The case highlights the physical security risks facing crypto holders, especially when attackers can connect victims to visible digital asset wealth.
Charges Include Kidnapping and Hobbs Act Robbery
The three men face charges including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempted Hobbs Act robbery and attempted kidnapping.
Chindavanh was arrested on Dec. 22 in Sunnyvale. Armstrong and Rucker were arrested on Dec. 31 in Los Angeles.
All three remain in federal custody as the case proceeds in San Francisco federal court.
The charges center on alleged kidnapping and robbery rather than a technical hacking scheme. For crypto holders, the indictment is another reminder that digital assets can create physical security risks when criminals target people directly.
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Fhumulani Lukoto
Cryptocurrency Journalist
Fhumulani Lukoto holds a Bachelors Degree in Journalism enabling her to become the writer she is today. Her passion for cryptocurrency and bitcoin started in 2021 when she began producing content in the space. A naturally inquisitive person, she dove head first into all things crypto to gain the huge wealth of knowledge she has today. Based out of Gauteng, South Africa, Fhumulani is a core member of the content team at Coin Insider.