crypto-kidnapping heist
Victim 1 to transfer $8 million worth of 6 room in 15 minutes before the son called 911, Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, Press Publications shortly b cryptocurrency to their wallets. Raymond Garcia left the home out PRESORTED and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, were 4779 Bloom Avenue STANDARD und enforcem As Isiah Garcia and Victim 1 were the back door with the AR-15-style charged federally with kidnapping for White Bear Lake, MN 55110 U.S. POSTAGE PAID law enfor returning to the home, Victim 1’s rifle, heading towards the tree line. allegedly engaging in a kidnapping amily PERMIT NO. 9 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED CIRCLE PINES, MN scene of Raymond Garcia returned to the home son used the moments that Raymond and cryptocurrency heist where entistrythey held a family at gunpoint for Malibu r Garcia left the home to call 911. shortly thereafter, without the rifle. next day, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies Meanwhile, while Raymond Garcia nine hours and stole $8 million in the car o responded to the scene following held the wife and son hostage, crypto currency. The incident forced Accepting Septemb the 911 call and found the wife and defendant Isiah Garcia forced Mahtomedi Public Schools to cancel new patients! tracked t son zip tied in the house. As they Victim 1 at gunpoint to log into his its homecoming football game for the 2300 Hwy 96, WBL the Garc cryptocurrency accounts. Isiah Garcia arrived, Washington County Sheriff’s safety of its community. 651-429-5354 WEDNESDAY, 8, 2025 After ret Deputies saw OCTOBER a man, later identified demanded that Victim 1 transfer A news release issued by the United NO. 52 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00 Garcia re as130 Raymond Garcia, running out the large amounts of cryptocurrency into VOL. States Attorney’s Office provides the firearm back door. When law enforcement a cryptocurrency wallet that Isiah following account of the incident. and robb searched the area around the home, Garcia provided. During the robbery, “A violent kidnapping that stole $8 On Sep they located a suitcase in the tree Victim 1 saw both Garcia brothers million and silenced a homecoming the Garc line. In the suitcase, they found a frequently making phone calls to an game is not just a crime. It is a blow in custod disassembled AR-15-style rifle, AR-15 unknown third party, who appeared to the sense of safety of everyone in He admit ammunition, as well as clothing items to be providing the information Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Raymond and beverages. related to the Joseph H. Thompson. “This is not Minneso Multiple cryptocurrency normal. Minnesotans should not family at squads accounts and accept wild violence and thievery as zip ties, a responded to transfers. normal. Every Minnesotan deserves family ca the 911 call, Through this to live in peace and a life unaffected by brothers some of whom third party, the rampant crime.” in Washi unknowingly Garcia brothers At 4:45 p.m. on Sept. 19, the In honor of National Newspaper Week, Press Publications asked local city officials, community leaders counts of passed Isiah became aware Washington County Sheriff’s Office and business owners, “In what way does the local newspaper provide value to the community?” one coun Garcia that Victim 1 Dispatch Center received a 911 call This year, National Newspaper Week falls on Sunday, Oct. 5, through Saturday, Oct. 11. and robbery, Victim 1 as had additional from an adult male who reported that BY SHANNON GRANHOLM degree b they pulled cryptocurrency he and his family had been victims MANAGING EDITOR On Sep over to allow funds. They of an armed robbery and kidnapping “As a Chamber of Commerce, we rely on the local Press Pubs newspapers to both cha emergency demandedhelp theamplify the voices of our business community. From covering the In 1954, eight families started meeting by two adultwith male suspects and had events to a shared vision to start a church. 2025, at gunpoint within with kidn vehicles to pass. money. Victim been Now heldin hostage Joseph H. Thompson highlighting new businesses, the paper plays a vital role in keeping members members say that vision is still very much alive. made the Isiah Garcia their residence in Grant. The 911 caller 1 explained that visible and strengtheningActing our localU.S. economy.” Attorney Parkview United Church of Christ, located on in federa turned the truck the remaining reported that he, his father (Victim 1), Bellaire Avenue in White Bear is celebrating governm around, parked funds were on a — Kari Moore, executive director, White Bear Lake Area Chamber andLake, his mother had been held hostage. of Commerce its 70-year anniversary Sunday, Oct. 9, morning, Victim pending it nearby, and hard drive-style AtOct. 7:4512. a.m. that 2025, also marks the 12th anniversary of voting Per the walked towards a nearby middle cryptocurrency wallet that was stored 1 was taking out a garbage can to to become an “open and affirming” congregation, “The Bear cabin Press provides value to our community by operating as alot. known Minneap school parking Isiah Garcia atWhite a family approximately three the street when the Garcia brothers meaning the church openly welcomes persons of and consistent resource for local news, event promotion and legal publications. It a nearby field. Alvin M. ditched the shotgun in hours away. suddenly appeared every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and pointed an ARalso helps build community pride by highlighting our nonprofits, service groups following To protect the safety of the community, Isiah Garcia, armed with the 15-style rifle and a shotgun at Victim and expression to participate in all aspects of the comp Schools was forced shotgun, then forced 1 into in today’sMahtomedi 1. The Garcia brothers took Victim 1 and student achievements. WeVictim are fortunate, news market,Public to continue worship and church life. terrorize to cancel itscommunity.” homecoming football Victim 1’s truck. Isiah drove dedicated into the garage where they bound his to haveGarcia a local newspaper to our White Bear Township resident David Wightman, own hom game in response to the ongoing law the truck and Victim 1 to the family’s hands with zip ties. They then brought who grew up in the church, recently watched a — Rick Juba, White Bear Lake assistant city manager member enforcement activity near the campus. cabin to retrieve the hard drive. All 1 into the house. The Garcia video about the church that Victim chronicles its history family ho Using a Wendy’s receipt located the while, Raymond Garcia held brothers woke up Victim 1’s wife and from 1954 through 1985. In that video, one of the “White Bear Press is a staple and a resource to many. pastors is asked about what adult the church needs to a brazen in the suitcase recovered behind Victim 1’s wife and son hostage within our community son at gunpoint. They also zip focus on going forward. Thetied pastor says, ‘we need It provides value and supports community initiatives, youth office, to Victim 1’s house, law enforcement was the AR-15-style rifle.immense At the cabin, their hands and forced them to lie to do more communication with thefloor. community and loca able to determine thatasIsiah Victim 1 transferred the remaining on the programs, businesses and more by sharing stories and acting a solidGarcia source and to do mission outreach and to supportRaymond issues of Garcia held in Minne had rented athat white Chevrolet three funds to the wallet Defendant of cryptocurrency information. It truly is a community newspaper represents the city of peace and justice.’ tirelessly provided by Isiah Garcia. Isiah Garcia days prior to the kidnapping, near the wife and son in their home for White Bear Lake.” “We have taken that start nine of a culture Houston, Texas. Law enforcement also responsi then drove Victim 1 back towards hours.ofRaymond Garcia was — Dr. Amelia Reigstad, founder of The Women Collective spirituality and modified it to our current state located video surveillance showing Victim 1’s home. armed with the AR-15-style rifle for within this country, our current view of social that Raymond Garcia rented a Motel In total, the Garcia brothers forced the duration of the kidnapping. About 842911
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FRAUDULENT ENROLLMENT: White Bear Schools, police investigating PAGE 7
Parkview’s founding vision lives on 70 years later
Celebrating the press “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.”
justice and kindness. So the point of origin is kind of the same, but it's been modernized,” Wightman explained.
“As a longtime resident of the White Bear Lake community, I look forward to the weekly White Bear Press. It provides information about our schools, city updates, upcoming events and volunteer activities. It helps me stay engaged and connected.”
ISD 624 Board approves preliminary tax levy ceiling for 2026-20 — Patty Hall, White Bear Lake Rotarian, founder of H2O for Life
numbers for the final total. Were ISD 624 to approve 2025 Estimated than the maximum, it would legally be unable “Cityless Council summaries. Community calendar. Voters’ guide. Obituaries. Amount to change thatChurch ceiling should theto need arise in thereports. Market Value School board notes. news. Letters the editor. Police coming months. The school board has approved a preliminary 1,219 School“Property news. New business openings. Our local newspaper connects us as a250,000 taxes make up 20-25% of our general maximum property tax levy increase of just over 1,496 300,000 community. Studies have shown that local newspapers the fund,” Johnson noted. “It’s anwhere important funding do not exist,350,000 $3,080,000, or 4.75%, for the 2026-2027 school year, 1,773 civic life of the community suffers. At the League of Women Voters, we believe 2,049 400,000 stream for the school district.” payable 2026. local journalism is essential to ourthis democracy, and that 2,326 450,000 Board ethical Member Jessica Ellison stated that is Throughout August and September, the Minnesota that credible, everyone have accesstotoWhite comprehensive andisindependent not ashould system unique Bear; this how schoollocal news. Department of Education (MDE) calculates an PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS is fortunate to havethe a local paper with these qualities.” districts are funded across country. estimated levy amount for the next school year. WhiteOur community Parkview United Church of Christ, located on Bellaire The above Paradoxically, while the property tax levy is White Bear Lake Bear Lake Area Schools Director of Finance Andi — Jackie Reis, president of the League of Women Voters Area chart shows the Avenue, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this month. 2026 in taxes from the sch Johnson explained that school districts almost always increasing, Johnson explained that the average Bear Lake Area School Dist property owner will likely pay less. “The total approve the highest possible preliminary amount is like having a diary ofto ourbecommunity revenue that we’re going receivinghappenings. is going to so that they can have flexibility as MDE“Having adjustsa local its newspaper History The paper documentsgo not justJohnson the big moments in our area, but also the trends In October 1955, the church’s first pastor was “None,” Johnson repl up,” said, “but there’s a higher amount hired and worship began taking place in members’ and patterns that make a certain era – from fashionThere’s to word new choices county.” Upon hearing of property in distinct the school district. homes. Children would attend Sunday School and local issues to food options. So much can be gleaned from the weekly that residents in the dis construction and new businesses coming in, so that’s in the basements of homes while their parents spread over the entire property value (of the district).” property tax increases publication.” attended service. county. Board Chair Dr. Scott Arcand asked Johnson, — Sara Markoe Hanson, executive director, White Bear Lake Area Historical Society “The story goes, if you had children in multiple The school board is se “What control do we have in this room on the grades, you would be dropping them off at various the Dec. 8 meeting follo evaluation of our homes?” BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
HUGO
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people’s homes on Sunday morning,” explained
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