Summary

  • Two brothers from Texas have admitted to robbing a Minnesota family of over $8 million in cryptocurrency during a violent home invasion in 2025.
  • Isiah and Raymond Garcia held the victims at gunpoint for over eight hours, compelling the father to transfer the cryptocurrency, as stated by the Justice Department.
  • They each risk up to 20 years in prison, marking a significant case of a crypto "wrench attack" in the U.S.

Two brothers from Texas have pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of a Minnesota family, stealing more than $8 million in cryptocurrency after holding them at gunpoint in their residence.

Isiah Angelo Garcia, 25, and Raymond Christian Garcia, 24, both hailing from Waller, Texas, entered their guilty pleas on Thursday to one count of robbery affecting commerce, as reported by a Justice Department statement. Their pleas were made before U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery in Minneapolis.

According to prosecutors, the brothers traveled from Texas to Minnesota with the intent to execute this robbery. On September 19, 2025, they invaded the home of a man and his family in Grant, a small town near Minneapolis, holding them at gunpoint, demanding access to cryptocurrency accounts, and restraining them with zip ties for over eight hours.

At one point, Isiah Garcia compelled the father to drive to their cabin in northern Minnesota to retrieve further crypto storage devices and facilitate the transfer of funds, as indicated in court documents. Ultimately, the brothers forced the father to transfer more than $8 million in cryptocurrency.

The family's son was able to contact 911, prompting the brothers to flee. Investigators identified them through items they left at the crime scene and later tracked them down to the Houston area, where they were apprehended. Both brothers acknowledged using firearms to threaten the family.

FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dotson remarked, "No one should ever feel unsafe in their own home," emphasizing that such "violence and greed" will be thoroughly investigated. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen highlighted that the pleas demonstrate a commitment to holding the brothers "accountable for their actions."

Each brother faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, and they have agreed to pay over $8 million in restitution. Sentencing dates remain to be determined.

The brothers were initially charged in September, shortly after an incident that alarmed the Grant community and led to the cancellation of a local high school's homecoming football game as police searched for the suspects.

Increase in Crypto “Wrench Attacks”

This case is part of a troubling trend of so-called "wrench attacks," where cryptocurrency holders are forced to surrender their assets through physical coercion or threats. Such incidents are on the rise globally.

Last year, Remy St. Felix received a 47-year prison sentence after being convicted in North Carolina for orchestrating a violent crypto home-invasion operation—the longest sentence in a U.S. cryptocurrency case. In May, three men from Tennessee were indicted for a series of "brazen" wrench attacks in California, allegedly obtaining $6.5 million at gunpoint.

France has emerged as a significant hotspot for such crimes, with prosecutors charging 88 individuals, including minors, in various investigations into kidnappings that have targeted victims like Ledger co-founder David Balland, who was abducted and mutilated before being rescued by police. Security experts caution that reported incidents may be underreported, urging asset holders to keep their wealth discreet.