Ben Armstrong, a prominent cryptocurrency influencer formerly known as BitBoy, found himself behind bars after a high-profile arrest. The Gwinnett County, Georgia, Sheriff's Office detained Armstrong on September 25 while he was livestreaming outside the residence of a former co-worker. He spent more than eight hours in custody.
Armstrong was released on bail, amounting to $2,600, plus $40 in costs. He faces charges of "loitering/prowling" and "simple assault to place another person in fear." In Georgia, loitering or prowling typically refers to a person being present in a manner or at a time that's not customary for a law-abiding individual, under circumstances causing justifiable alarm or immediate concern for the safety of persons or property, as explained by the Georgia-based law firm Lawson & Berry.
Penalties for misdemeanor prowling and loitering in Georgia include fines of up to $1,000, a jail term of up to one year, or a combination of both.
Simple assault, on the other hand, can involve attempting to cause physical harm to another person or committing an act that puts someone in reasonable fear of imminent physical harm.
In Georgia, simple assault is also considered a misdemeanor, although the seriousness of the offense can vary depending on specific circumstances, according to the law firm.
After his release, Armstrong appeared to take the situation lightly, joking about his time in custody. However, he did announce a temporary break from social media shortly after his release.
The arrest stemmed from a dispute between Ben Armstrong and Hit Network, which controls the "BitBoy Crypto" brand. The company and its executives severed ties with Armstrong in August, citing issues including substance abuse and financial losses for employees. The incident that led to Armstrong's arrest involved him visiting the home of a former colleague, Carlos Diaz, whom he claimed owned his Lamborghini. The live streamed confrontation with Diaz and the subsequent arrest lasted about 19 minutes before local police intervened.
Cryptocurrency trader EmperorBTC, with over 360,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), commented that Armstrong's arrest "should be a lesson to everyone."
