A supervisory FBI special agent turned himself in this week, accused of stealing nearly $1 million in cryptocurrency from foreign nationals under federal investigation. Patrick Steven Yaroch, who held a top-secret clearance, allegedly used that access to locate passphrases for crypto wallets belonging to nationals of a country the FBI treats as an adversary. He moved the stolen funds into his own wallet in a series of transactions starting in late 2024. Yaroch is now in federal custody, fired from the bureau, and facing charges that carry decades in prison.
How the theft unfolded
According to court documents, Yaroch accessed classified case files to find the passphrases. He then transferred the cryptocurrency to his own wallet via 10 to 12 separate transactions. When agents arrested him, they recovered $925,426.07 of the stolen funds — nearly all of it. Yaroch confessed during an FBI interview, according to the agency.
The escape plan
Digital forensics recovered chatbot logs showing Yaroch had been researching relocation strategies. He looked into how to invest a hypothetical windfall, European residency requirements, booking a trip to Portugal, and securing power of attorney from a Portuguese law firm. The plan unraveled after he confided in a Justice Department colleague over Signal on July 28. That tip led to his arrest one week later.
Insider threats keep hitting crypto
Yaroch's case is the latest in a string of insider-related crypto thefts this year. In March, a government contractor's son allegedly stole $46 million from the US Marshals Service. In June, a former CIA officer faced scrutiny over a hidden $40 million gold scheme. Broader industry data from TRM Labs shows crypto thefts cost the industry $972 million across 207 incidents in the first half of 2026.
Yaroch was fired immediately after his arrest. He now awaits trial on charges of interstate transportation of stolen property and receipt of stolen goods. A court date has not yet been set.
