Former FBI Agent Pleads Guilty to Stealing $2.47 Million in Crypto

FBI agent pleads guilty — A former FBI agent has pleaded guilty to stealing approximately $2.47 million in cryptocurrency using wallet credentials the bureau had seized during its own investigations.

Patrick Steven Yaroch, 37, entered pleas to wire fraud and money laundering charges in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on Thursday. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Yaroch used his access to make roughly 100 fraudulent transfers from wallets tied to 35 separate FBI probes, including those involving criminal groups and nation-state adversaries.

The illicit activity, which began no later than December 2024, compromised multiple investigations and FBI operational methods. Yaroch converted the stolen crypto into other assets and used the funds to pay personal debts, including credit cards and car loans. Court documents also reveal he consulted ChatGPT about moving to Portugal and invested in property there.

Yaroch, who faces up to 20 years in prison, is scheduled for sentencing on March 4, 2027. The case highlights significant internal security failures within federal law enforcement’s handling of digital asset evidence.