FBI Arrests Suspect In $46 Million Bitcoin Theft From US Marshals

John Daghita, a former US government contractor accused of stealing more than $46 million in Bitcoin (BTC) from the US Marshals Service (USMS), was arrested late Wednesday on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Patel emphasized that the FBI will continue to work around the clock with international partners to pursue individuals accused of defrauding American taxpayers, regardless of where they attempt to evade authorities.

Authorities involved in the arrest reportedly discovered a briefcase containing cash and multiple USB drives in Daghita’s possession. Investigators have not publicly detailed the contents of the devices or how they may relate to the alleged theft.

The case centers on accusations that Daghita misappropriated more than $46 million in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency assets that had been seized and were under the control of the US Marshals Service. 

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $70,919. This followed Wednesday’s failure to climb back above $74,000, resulting in a 3.5% retracement for the cryptocurrency within a 24-hour period.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com