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While driving Northbound on Highway 17 this morning, I noticed Highway Patrol, Scotts Valley PD, and Sheriff's Office vehicles at the exits looking for someone. I turned on my scanner just as they had announced the suspect vehicle in sight on Highway 17 north, he exited Mount Hermon Rd. in Scotts Va
Photo: Dan Dawson | CC BY 2.0 | Wikimedia Commons

FBI Counterintelligence Supervisor Charged With Holding $1 Million In Stolen Crypto

Patrick Yaroch, a supervisory F.B.I. counterintelligence agent, was arrested over the weekend and charged with possessing about $1 million in cryptocurrency allegedly taken from a criminal target's account.[1]

An affidavit says Yaroch confessed late last week to a Justice Department employee, telling them the theft was "eating him up inside" and that he began making withdrawals in late 2024 or early 2025.[1] Investigators say he used an FBI-obtained pass phrase to make 10 to 12 unauthorized withdrawals from the target's account and was arrested on a possession of stolen property charge.[1] Court papers note that Yaroch asked ChatGPT in May how to invest $1 million with the goal of retiring early and buying a vineyard abroad.[1]

An affidavit filed in the case lays out how agents say access obtained during the investigation was used to move funds into wallets Yaroch controlled.[1] The matter is now in the hands of federal investigators and prosecutors, and court papers remain the primary public record of the allegations.[1]

  1. New York Times
Federal Law Enforcement Cybercrime & Cryptocurrency
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📌 Key Facts

  • Affidavit says supervisory FBI counterintelligence agent Patrick Yaroch amassed about $1 million in cryptocurrency taken from a criminal target’s account.
  • Yaroch allegedly confessed late last week, telling a Justice Department employee the theft was “eating him up inside” and that he began withdrawals in late 2024 or early 2025.
  • Investigators say he used an FBI-obtained pass phrase to make 10–12 unauthorized withdrawals and was arrested over the weekend on possession of stolen property.
  • Court papers note Yaroch asked ChatGPT in May how to invest $1 million with the goal of early retirement and buying a vineyard abroad.

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August 03, 2026