FBI Agent Accused of Stealing $1 Million in Cryptocurrency
A former FBI supervisory agent allegedly stole about $1 million in cryptocurrency and used it to fund a potential move to Portugal, according to an affidavit filed by federal authorities.
The suspect, Patrick Yaroch, was dismissed from the FBI on July 31, one day before the affidavit was filed. He had served as a supervisory special agent in the Counterintelligence and Espionage Division at the FBI's headquarters.
Yaroch allegedly transferred the cryptocurrency using private keys that he discovered, giving him access to the digital wallets. He then mixed the funds with his personal assets and used ChatGPT to explore investing the money and relocating to Europe.
ChatGPT suggested Portugal as a viable option based on Yaroch's preferences for a 2-5 hectare estate, interest in age-worthy red wine, and desire to live there rather than just own property. However, it is unclear whether Yaroch acted on the chatbot's suggestions.