FBI Arrests Agent Accused of $1 Million Crypto Theft
Patrick Steven Yaroch, 37, joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2017 and served as a supervisory special agent in its Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, holding Top Secret clearance. The case highlights insider risks for law-enforcement agencies that possess recovery phrases and other sensitive information for cryptocurrency wallets tied to national-security investigations, where a trusted employee may be able to bypass digital-asset custody controls.
An affidavit made public on Aug. 3 alleged that Yaroch used FBI systems to obtain seed phrases and moved nearly $1 million in 10 to 12 transfers beginning in late 2024. The FBI arrested and fired him on July 31 and recovered about $925,426. Investigators said he asked ChatGPT on May 28 how to invest or spend $1 million and on June 4 about relocating to the European Union. He had booked a family trip to Portugal departing Sept. 3.
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The history behind this eventFBI Arrests Insider John Daghita Over Alleged Theft of $46 Million in US Government Crypto
The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for safeguarding crypto assets seized in law-enforcement operations and relies on private contractors for custody services. John Daghita is accused of exploiting access through his father’s employer to breach government wallets, highlighting risks in public-sector digital-asset custody, contractor controls and private-key access management.
In July 2026, the FBI arrested John Daghita on the French side of Saint Martin, accusing him of stealing more than $46 million in crypto assets from wallets overseen by the U.S. Marshals Service. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT first exposed the case, after which law-enforcement officers identified the suspect by comparing records of his ostentatious spending with onchain fund flows.
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