A former FBI counterintelligence supervisor has been charged with stealing nearly $1 million in cryptocurrency from wallets connected to FBI investigations, according to court documents filed this week. The case marks an unusual insider threat from someone who once worked to protect the bureau's operations.
The charges
The ex-agent, whose name has not been released by prosecutors, allegedly siphoned funds from wallets that were under FBI control as part of ongoing investigations. The theft came to light during a routine audit, and the suspect was arrested last week. The indictment charges him with wire fraud and money laundering.
ChatGPT as an accomplice
Investigators found that the former supervisor turned to ChatGPT for help managing the stolen crypto. He asked the AI chatbot for investment advice on how to grow the illicit proceeds. Separately, he also sought guidance on relocating to Europe, presumably to avoid detection. The chats were recovered from his devices and are cited in the criminal complaint.
What happens next
The former agent is currently in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for later this month. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The FBI has declined to comment on whether any of the stolen funds have been recovered or whether other employees are under scrutiny.
