Minnesota State Wire

Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, have been charged in federal court with kidnapping following an incident in which they allegedly held a family at gunpoint for nine hours and stole $8 million in cryptocurrency. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson announced the charges, noting that the event also led Mahtomedi Public Schools to cancel its homecoming football game as a safety precaution.

“A violent kidnapping that stole $8 million and silenced a homecoming game is not just a crime. It is a blow to the sense of safety of everyone in Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “This is not normal. Minnesotans should not accept wild violence and thievery as normal. Every Minnesotan deserves to live in peace and a life unaffected by rampant crime.”

According to law enforcement reports, on September 19, 2025, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from an adult male reporting that he and his family had been kidnapped and robbed at their home in Grant, Minnesota. The suspects were identified as the Garcia brothers.

The report states that early that morning, Victim 1 was confronted outside his home by the Garcia brothers who were armed with an AR-15-style rifle and shotgun. They bound his hands with zip ties before bringing him into the house where they woke up his wife and son at gunpoint and restrained them as well.

Raymond Garcia reportedly kept the wife and son hostage for nine hours while Isiah Garcia forced Victim 1 to log into cryptocurrency accounts under threat of violence. Both suspects communicated frequently with an unknown third party during this period regarding account details.

After learning there were additional funds stored on a hard drive at a family cabin three hours away, Isiah Garcia drove Victim 1 there at gunpoint while Raymond continued holding the other two hostages at their residence. At the cabin, more funds were transferred to wallets provided by Isiah Garcia.

In total, authorities say $8 million worth of cryptocurrency was taken during this ordeal.

When returning from the cabin trip, Victim 1’s son managed to call police after Raymond left briefly without his firearm. Deputies responded quickly, finding two victims still restrained inside while Raymond fled out the back door.

Evidence collected included a suitcase found near the property containing parts of an AR-15-style rifle and items linking Isiah Garcia to a rental car obtained days earlier near Houston, Texas. Surveillance footage showed movements between Minnesota locations before law enforcement tracked both suspects back to their residence in Waller, Texas.

On September 22nd both men were arrested in Texas; Isiah Garcia later confessed involvement during questioning by authorities.

Both defendants face state charges including multiple counts of kidnapping with firearms along with robbery and burglary charges filed on September 23rd in Washington County District Court before being charged federally on September 24th.

“As alleged in the complaint, the Garcia brothers terrorized a Minnesota family in their own home, kidnapping one family member while holding the rest of the family hostage in order to conduct a brazen cryptocurrency theft,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr., adding: “This office… will work tirelessly to hold accountable those responsible for this horrific crime.”

The investigation involved cooperation between local sheriff’s deputies and federal agents from both Minnesota and Texas jurisdictions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca E. Kline is leading prosecution efforts for these cases.

A criminal complaint is only an allegation; both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.