Former FBI supervisory special agent Patrick Steven Yaroch pleaded guilty on November 5 to wire fraud and money laundering in Alexandria, Virginia. The 37-year-old admitted to stealing approximately US$2.47 million in cryptocurrency through about 100 fraudulent transfers from at least 79 wallets monitored across 35 FBI investigations. The Justice Department stated the thefts compromised investigations into criminal organizations and adversarial nation states. Yaroch's scheme began no later than December 2024 when he exploited his access to FBI case management systems to locate wallet credentials. He faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing scheduled for March 4, 2027.
Yaroch Exploited FBI System Access to Locate Wallet Credentials
Yaroch became a supervisory special agent in the Counterintelligence and Espionage Division at FBI headquarters in February 2025. That role gave him access to systems holding cryptocurrency credentials collected in investigations. He searched the FBI's case management system and a classified system used for foreign intelligence threats to find wallet credentials.
The thefts targeted at least 79 wallets, most of them under FBI monitoring. Single thefts ranged from 81 cents to more than US$580,000. Some wallets were controlled by two unnamed adversarial nation states. At least one transfer came from a wallet the FBI had created and funded for an operation. At least 10 transfers drew on wallets linked to crime victims in other FBI cases.
After each theft, Yaroch checked FBI records on the wallets to ensure the transfers went unnoticed. He moved the stolen cryptocurrency to wallets he controlled, swapped it for different cryptocurrencies, and laundered it through further transactions. Between November 25, 2025 and January 13, 2026, he sent approximately US$93,082 to one of his accounts. He used that money to pay credit cards, car payments, and other loans.
Yaroch also asked ChatGPT where to live in the European Union, and the chatbot suggested a vineyard in Portugal.
FBI Arrested Yaroch on July 31 Following Confession
Yaroch confessed to a Justice Department employee and former colleague on July 29. In that account, he described about 10 to 12 transfers worth under US$1 million.
The FBI fired, searched, and arrested him on July 31. Agents moved approximately US$925,426 in cryptocurrency out of his Kraken and Slush accounts that day. A judge released him on August 7 on a US$50,000 unsecured bond.
The Justice Department stated that Yaroch's actions deprived FBI employees of their ability to carry out their functions to protect public safety and national security.
In a separate case in March, the son of a US Marshals Service contractor was arrested over an alleged US$46 million theft of seized cryptocurrency.
FAQ
What did Patrick Steven Yaroch plead guilty to on November 5?
Patrick Steven Yaroch pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. He admitted to stealing approximately US$2.47 million in cryptocurrency through about 100 fraudulent transfers from at least 79 wallets monitored across 35 FBI investigations.
How did Yaroch access the cryptocurrency wallets?
Yaroch became a supervisory special agent in the Counterintelligence and Espionage Division at FBI headquarters in February 2025. That role gave him access to FBI case management systems and a classified system used for foreign intelligence threats, where he searched for and located wallet credentials collected in investigations.
When is Yaroch's sentencing scheduled?
Yaroch's sentencing is scheduled for March 4, 2027. He faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering.
