FBI Agent Accused of Stealing $1M in Crypto, Using AI for Investment Advice
A former FBI agent has been charged with stealing $1 million in cryptocurrency from official systems. Patrick Steven Yaroch, who worked within the FBI's Counterintelligence and Espionage Division with Top Secret security clearances, allegedly accessed internal agency systems to retrieve recovery phrases for cryptocurrency wallets seized in investigations targeting a foreign adversary.
He memorized the key phrases, created personal wallets, and executed roughly ten unauthorized transfers into accounts under his control. The thefts took place between early 2025 and July 2026.
Digital evidence reveals that Yaroch used ChatGPT to plan investments and seek residency in European Union countries. On May 28, 2026, he queried the artificial intelligence system regarding strategies to invest $1 million to maximize returns.
Following his arrest on July 31, 2026, Yaroch must appear before the corresponding federal court for his initial arraignment hearing and the determination of pretrial release conditions.