FBI Agent Steals Millions in Cryptocurrency by Memorizing Seed Phrase
- Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Patrick Steven Yaroch is accused of stealing nearly $1 million in cryptocurrency from accounts linked to a 'hostile nation' under FBI surveillance.
- Yaroch memorized seed phrases for the targeted crypto accounts and transferred the funds to personal wallets, making about 10 to 12 transfers.
- He expressed frustration with the FBI's inaction regarding the accounts, leading him to take matters into his own hands.
- Yaroch voluntarily confessed to the FBI and was subsequently fired and arrested.
- He faces charges of interstate transportation of stolen goods and receipt of stolen goods.
A criminal complaint unsealed by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has revealed that former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Patrick Steven Yaroch is accused of stealing nearly $1 million in cryptocurrency from accounts linked to a 'hostile nation' under FBI surveillance. Yaroch allegedly memorized the seed phrases for these accounts and transferred the funds to his personal wallets, making multiple transactions.
Yaroch expressed frustration with the FBI's inability to act against the accounts, which he believed were being used to support hostile activities. This frustration reportedly motivated him to take matters into his own hands, leading to his theft of the cryptocurrency.
After realizing the gravity of his actions, Yaroch voluntarily confessed to the FBI, providing them with evidence including the seed phrase note and a hardware wallet. He was subsequently fired from his position and arrested, facing charges related to the theft of the cryptocurrency.
FBI特工通过记忆种子短语盗取数百万加密货币
美国弗吉尼亚东区地方法院解封的一份刑事诉状显示，前FBI监督特别探员帕特里克·史蒂文·亚罗赫被指控从与FBI监视的“敌对国家”相关的账户中盗取近100万美元的加密货币。亚罗赫涉嫌记住这些账户的种子短语，并将资金转移到他的个人钱包中，进行了多次转账。
亚罗赫对FBI无法对这些账户采取行动表示沮丧，他认为这些账户被用于支持敌对活动。这种沮丧 reportedly促使他采取行动，导致了加密货币的盗窃。
在意识到自己行为的严重性后，亚罗赫自愿向FBI坦白，向他们提供了包括种子短语笔记和硬件钱包在内的证据。他随后被解雇并被逮捕，面临与加密货币盗窃相关的指控。