Former FBI Agent Admits Stealing $2.5 Million in Crypto From 35 Cases - TOKENPOST
Former FBI agent Patrick Steven Yaroch pleaded guilty to stealing about $2.5 million in cryptocurrency from wallets tied to 35 investigations.
Yaroch, 37, entered guilty pleas Nov. 5 to wire fraud and money laundering in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia. The amount stolen is more than double the nearly $1 million prosecutors initially alleged when charging him in August.
Theft Method
He admitted using wallet credentials he could access through his FBI work to make about 100 transfers. The wallets were linked to investigation suspects, state-backed hackers and at least one wallet created by the FBI for an operation.
Consequences
Yaroch converted the cryptocurrency into other digital assets and moved it through multiple transactions to hide its origin. Some proceeds went toward credit card payments, a car loan and other debts.
Yaroch admitted that his conduct threatened investigations into criminal groups and hostile nations and affected foreign intelligence sources and methods.
Legal Outcome
Yaroch faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 4, 2027.
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