Crypto
Trio charged in Bay Area cryptocurrency robbery spree
SAN FRANCISCO — Three Tennessee men have been indicted on federal charges related to a robbery spree targeting cryptocurrency holders in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, prosecutors said.
Elijah Armstrong, 21, Nino Chindavanh, 21, and Jayden Rucker, 25, are charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempted Hobbs Act robbery and attempted kidnapping, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The act prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate commerce.
Chindavanh was arrested Dec. 22 in Sunnyvale, and Armstrong and Rucker were arrested Dec. 31 in Los Angeles. Chindavanh made his initial appearance in federal court April 14, and Armstrong and Rucker made their initial appearances Monday.
Citing an indictment filed March 31, prosecutors said the men conspired to kidnap and rob victims of cryptocurrency in San Francisco, San Jose, Sunnyvale and Los Angeles.
The trio posed as deliverymen to gain access or attempt to gain access to the victims’ homes, prosecutors said, adding that they then used guns, duct tape and zip ties to assault the victims.
In one incident, a victim was forced at gunpoint to transfer $6.5 million from his cryptocurrency accounts to a wallet controlled by co-conspirators, prosecutors said.
“These individuals, as alleged, terrorized their victims in the hopes of stealing vast sums of cryptocurrency,” U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian said in a statement Monday. “The scheme was not only sophisticated, it was brazen, violent and dangerous.”
If convicted, the men face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, attempted Hobbs Act robbery and attempted kidnapping, as well as a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
The trio remains in federal custody. Armstrong and Rucker are next set to appear Tuesday for appointment of counsel, and Chindavanh is next set to appear June 26 for a status hearing.
Crypto
Davidson County warns of phone scammers calling for payments via cryptocurrency, gift cards or mobile apps
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is warning the public of phone scammers claiming to be deputies to get residents’ money.
DCSO reports that the callers are posing as sheriff’s office employees requesting payments via cryptocurrency, gift cards or mobile apps.
The sheriff’s office warns that deputies will not ask for payments over the phone.
“Verify calls with DCSO or contact the Metro Nashville Police Department at 615-862-8600,” DCSO said.
Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved.
Crypto
Strategy Sells Bitcoin for First Time Since 2022, Dumps 32 BTC to Fund Preferred Stock Dividends
Key Takeaways
- Strategy sold 32 BTC for $2.5M at $77,135 between May 26 and May 31 to fund preferred dividends.
- Strategy holds 843,706 BTC at a $63.87B cost basis despite the sale, with a $900M USD reserve on hand.
- Five series of Strategy preferred stock carry active dividends payable June 30, 2026, totaling recurring obligations.
Why the Sale Matters
The amount is small. Thirty-two coins against a stack of 843,706 BTC represents a fraction of a fraction of the company’s holdings. But the reason for the sale draws attention: proceeds are expected to fund distributions on preferred stock, according to the June 1 Form 8-K filed with the SEC.
Strategy has built its entire identity around accumulation. The company has made more than 110 reported purchases over six years, funded through convertible debt, equity offerings, preferred shares, and operating cash. Selling bitcoin, even 32 coins, runs counter to that positioning.
The Preferred Stock Dividend Picture
Strategy currently carries five series of preferred stock with active dividend obligations. The board declared the following cash dividends on May 30, 2026, all payable June 30:
- STRF (10.00% Strife): $2.50 per share, quarter ending June 30
- STRC (Variable Rate Stretch, 11.50%): $0.9583 per share, month ending June 30
- STRK (8.00% Strike): $2.00 per share, quarter ending June 30
- STRD (10.00% Stride): $2.50 per share, quarter ending June 30
- STRE (10.00% Stream): €2.50 per share, quarter ending June 30
The variable rate on STRC was held at 11.50% effective June 1, 2026.
The USD Reserve
Strategy established a U.S. dollar reserve in December 2025, a management-designated liquidity pool intended to cover preferred stock dividends and debt interest. As of May 31, 2026, that reserve holds $900 million.
The existence of a $900 million cash reserve makes the decision to sell 32 BTC more notable. The company chose to liquidate a small amount of bitcoin rather than draw down its dollar reserve to cover distributions. Following the file going public, BTC’s price shuddered below $72,000 to an intraday low of $71,866.
What the Stack Looks Like Now
As of May 31, Strategy holds 843,706 BTC acquired for approximately $63.87 billion at an average purchase price of $75,699 per coin. The firm also sold 801,994 shares of MSTR common stock between May 26 and May 31, generating $128.3 million in net proceeds under its at-the-market offering program. Combined ATM capacity across MSTR and preferred stock programs totals more than $51 billion remaining.
The Accumulation Record
Strategy made its first bitcoin purchase in August 2020 at roughly $11,652 per coin. Outside a minor 704-coin sale in December 2022 for tax purposes, the company has not publicly reported selling bitcoin. The May 26 to May 31 sale brings the total disclosed liquidations to a still-negligible level relative to holdings, but it confirms that preferred stock obligations now represent a real and recurring cost the firm is willing to cover with BTC when needed.
Crypto
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