Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, have been charged in federal court with kidnapping after allegedly holding a Minnesota family at gunpoint for nine hours and stealing $8 million in cryptocurrency. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson announced the charges, which stem from an incident that 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 authorities, on September 19, 2025, Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from an adult male who reported that he and his family had been held hostage at their residence in Grant, Minnesota by two armed men identified as the Garcia brothers.
The incident began early that morning when one victim was confronted outside his home by the brothers wielding an AR-15-style rifle and shotgun. The victim was forced into his garage where his hands were bound with zip ties before being taken inside the house. There, the brothers woke up the victim's wife and adult son at gunpoint, also restraining them.
While Raymond Garcia kept watch over the wife and son with an AR-15-style rifle for nine hours, Isiah Garcia forced the primary victim to transfer large amounts of cryptocurrency under threat of violence. Throughout this period, both suspects communicated with an unknown third party believed to be providing information about additional cryptocurrency holdings.
After learning there were more funds stored on a hard drive at a family cabin three hours away, Isiah Garcia took the primary victim there at gunpoint while Raymond remained behind with other hostages. At the cabin, further transfers were made before returning toward the original residence.
During this time frame—while Raymond briefly left—the victim’s son called 911 leading deputies to respond rapidly to the scene where they found two victims still restrained inside. Officers observed Raymond fleeing out the back door; evidence including weapons and personal items was later recovered nearby.
Law enforcement tracked down leads using receipts and surveillance footage linking rental vehicles in Texas and Minnesota as well as motel stays shortly before and after the crime occurred. By September 22nd, authorities arrested both brothers at their home in Waller, Texas; Isiah subsequently confessed involvement during questioning.
Both men face multiple state charges—including three counts each of kidnapping with a firearm—and now face federal kidnapping charges filed on September 24th; initial court appearances are scheduled for today.
“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 collaboration between local law enforcement agencies from Minnesota and Texas alongside federal partners such as the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca E. Kline is prosecuting this case.
Authorities emphasized that criminal complaints are allegations only; defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
