Three men from Tennessee have been indicted for allegedly robbing a California cryptocurrency owner of $6.5 million at gunpoint while posing as delivery drivers, federal prosecutors announced.
Indictment Details
Elijah Armstrong, 21, Nino Chindavanh, 21, and Jayden Rucker, 25, all from Tennessee, were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping by a grand jury on Monday. The trio was arrested in December 2025 in the Greater Los Angeles area in connection with a series of violent robberies targeting cryptocurrency owners, according to the U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of California.
Violent Scheme
According to the indictment filed on March 31, 2026, the defendants traveled from Tennessee to commit the alleged crimes. They posed as delivery men to gain access or attempt to gain access to victims' homes. Once inside, they used firearms, duct tape, and zip ties to assault victims, including tying up a victim to force them to divulge account information. In one robbery, a victim was forced at gunpoint to sign into his cryptocurrency accounts before one of the suspects allegedly transferred approximately $6.5 million to a wallet controlled by the co-conspirators.
Prosecutor's Statement
“These individuals, as alleged, terrorized their victims in the hopes of stealing vast sums of cryptocurrency. The scheme was not only sophisticated, it was brazen, violent, and dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
FBI Response
FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo stated, “The indictment of these individuals underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from violent and organized criminal activity. As alleged, this was a calculated scheme involving robbery, kidnapping, and the theft of millions in cryptocurrency - crimes that put innocent people at risk and threaten the sense of safety we all rely on.”
The defendants are currently in federal custody. Armstrong and Rucker appeared in court on Tuesday, while Chindavanh is scheduled for a status hearing on June 26.
