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U.S. FBI intelligence agent arrested in connection with theft of $1 million in crypto
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A senior FBI counterintelligence agent has been arrested and accused of stealing more than $1 million in cryptocurrency from wallets linked to individuals under investigation. Patrick Steven Yarmoch, a supervisory special agent with "top secret" clearance, was fired and taken into custody on July 31. The arrest came after he allegedly turned himself in to agency colleagues, according to federal court filings.
Yarmoch worked at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., in the counterintelligence and espionage division. He previously served in Boston, where he investigated an unnamed "adversary nation." The August 1 filing in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia details the allegations against him.
Yarmoch allegedly admitted to extracting crypto keys from FBI systems and making about a dozen transfers to himself, totaling roughly $1 million. He reportedly used accounts on Kraken and Suilend, a decentralized finance platform on the Sui blockchain, via a Slush wallet. He was suspended for two days before his termination and arrest.
Investigators found that Yarmoch asked AI applications about leaving the U.S. with a large sum and gaining EU residency, with Portugal suggested as a destination. He also had family travel plans to Portugal the following month. Additionally, he took unreported trips to Germany, Portugal, and Grenada, violating FBI rules.
The case raises serious insider-threat concerns, given Yarmoch's top-secret clearance and role in national security. It highlights the challenges of securing digital assets seized during investigations. Legal experts say such cases are rare but underscore the need for stricter oversight of personnel with system access.
The FBI has not publicly commented beyond confirming the arrest. Yarmoch remains detained in Alexandria, Virginia, pending further proceedings. This incident will likely prompt reviews of how the FBI manages crypto keys and monitors employees, as digital currencies become more prevalent in criminal cases.
