Former FBI supervisor admits guilt in $1M crypto theft

cointelegraphОпубліковано о 2026-08-04Востаннє оновлено о 2026-08-04

Анотація

Former FBI supervisory agent Patrick Steven Yaroch pleaded guilty to stealing approximately $1 million in cryptocurrency. Using FBI systems to access wallets linked to an adversarial country, he made 10 unauthorized transfers between late 2024 and early 2025. After self-reporting, he was fired, arrested, and cooperated with agents to transfer about $925,000 to government-controlled wallets. Evidence from his home included devices and a Trezor wallet. In a related note, he had previously used ChatGPT for investment advice on handling a million dollars. This case follows past incidents of federal agents, like former DEA agent Carl Force and Secret Service agent Shaun Bridges, being convicted for similar crypto thefts.

Former FBI supervisory agent Patrick Steven Yaroch was charged with using internal systems to obtain credentials for cryptocurrency wallets linked to an adversarial country, which he used to transfer funds to his own crypto wallets.

Yaroch admitted to 10 unauthorized transfers between late 2024 and early 2025 that involved an estimated total of $1 million in digital assets, some of which he deposited into Suilend to earn yield, according to a Saturday US Federal court filing.

After self-reporting the incident, Yaroch was placed on administrative leave last Wednesday, terminated and then arrested on Friday. Agents retrieved devices, seed phrases and a Trezor wallet from his Virginia residence to access his accounts on Suilend and crypto exchange Kraken. With his cooperation, they transferred roughly $925,000 in funds to government-controlled wallets.

In May, Yaroch used ChatGPT for advice.

“If I had a million dollars, how would you suggest investing it/spending it to maximize profit and return,” he wrote in the AI prompt, according to the court filing. ChatGPT suggested “building a slower-living vineyard/agricultural lifestyle in places like Cilento or Portugal’s Dão region.”

Yaroch is the latest case of crypto theft involving a federal agent. In 2015, former DEA special agent Carl M. Force diverted about $700,000 in Bitcoin before pleading guilty and being sentenced to six and a half years in prison.

Former US Secret Service special agent Shaun W. Bridges stole about $350,000 in BTC back in 2015 before pleading guilty and facing a sentence of six years in prison. Both cases were tied to the investigation into dark net marketplace Silk Road.

Magazine: Inside the ‘fake police raid’ that forced a $1M Bitcoin transfer

Пов'язані питання

QWho is the former FBI supervisor mentioned in the article, and what did he admit to?

AThe former FBI supervisor is Patrick Steven Yaroch, a supervisory agent. He admitted guilt in making 10 unauthorized transfers of an estimated total of $1 million in cryptocurrency from wallets linked to an adversarial country to his own wallets.

QHow did Patrick Yaroch allegedly use internal FBI systems, and what was the result?

AHe allegedly used internal FBI systems to obtain credentials for cryptocurrency wallets linked to an adversarial country. This allowed him to transfer approximately $1 million in digital assets to his personal wallets.

QWhat happened to the stolen funds after Yaroch's arrest and cooperation?

AFollowing his arrest and cooperation, law enforcement agents transferred roughly $925,000 of the funds from his accounts on Suilend and Kraken to government-controlled wallets.

QWhat did Yaroch ask ChatGPT, and what was the AI's suggested investment plan?

AYaroch asked ChatGPT, 'If I had a million dollars, how would you suggest investing it/spending it to maximize profit and return.' ChatGPT suggested 'building a slower-living vineyard/agricultural lifestyle in places like Cilento or Portugal’s Dão region.'

QHow does this case relate to previous incidents involving federal agents and crypto theft?

AThis case is the latest involving a federal agent. Previous cases include former DEA agent Carl M. Force, who stole about $700,000 in Bitcoin, and former Secret Service agent Shaun W. Bridges, who stole about $350,000 in BTC. Both pleaded guilty and received multi-year prison sentences, and their cases were tied to the Silk Road investigation.

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