An FBI intelligence officer has been arrested on accusations of stealing over $1 million in cryptocurrency linked to agency investigations.
Patrick Steven Yarmoch, an agent with a "top secret" security clearance, was taken into custody after reportedly confessing to colleagues about misappropriating cryptocurrency from investigations conducted by the FBI. The arrest occurred on July 31, following a brief suspension from his position at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C.
According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Yarmoch allegedly extracted crypto keys from FBI systems and transferred funds to his personal accounts from wallets tied to foreign entities under investigation. His role, particularly focused on counterintelligence efforts against a designated adversary nation, allowed him access to sensitive information.
Investigators revealed that during the inquiry into Yarmoch’s activities, they uncovered searches on his devices that included queries about relocating to an EU country and inquiries made to AI applications regarding the best locations to emigrate with significant funds. Evidence also indicated that he had made travel plans, including trips to Portugal and other countries, which were not authorized by the FBI.
