Former FBI agent Patrick Steven Yaroch pleaded guilty to stealing about $2.5 million in cryptocurrency from wallets tied to 35 investigations, admitting a theft far larger than prosecutors first alleged.
Yaroch, 37, entered guilty pleas Nov. 5 to wire fraud and money laundering in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia. 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.
He 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.
The amount is more than double the nearly $1 million prosecutors alleged when charging him in August. Yaroch faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 4, 2027.
Riza Dagoc
Riza Dagoc reports on regulation, investing and the digital-asset business for TokenPost. Send corrections or tips to [email protected].
