FBI agent charged with stealing over $900,000 in cryptocurrency

A 37-year-old FBI agent, identified as Patrick Steven Yaroch, was charged on August 3, 2026, with stealing more than $900,000 in cryptocurrency. Court documents reveal that Yaroch, a member of an FBI national security team focused on a foreign adversary, abused his official access to transfer digital assets from monitored accounts to his personal wallet.

According to reports, Yaroch claimed his actions were motivated by frustration regarding government inaction concerning the illicit use of crypto accounts. Evidence indicates he sought advice from the artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT on how to manage significant funds if he were to flee the United States. While some reports estimate the theft at $1 million, official court filings cite a figure exceeding $900,000.

Following the discovery of these actions, Yaroch faces severe legal repercussions for the misappropriation of these assets. The incident has raised significant concerns regarding internal security protocols within the FBI as the investigation continues.