Former FBI Agent Patrick Yaroch Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $2.4 Million in Crypto

Former FBI counterintelligence agent Patrick Yaroch pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering on Nov. 5, admitting that he stole more than $2.4 million in cryptocurrency. According to Foresight News, citing The Washington Post, Yaroch entered his plea in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, and is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2027; he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Prosecutors said Yaroch repeatedly accessed confidential records for cases he was not assigned to, obtaining cryptocurrency account credentials linked to two hostile state actors and credentials for crypto assets connected to subjects in 35 FBI investigations. Some of the stolen funds belonged to at least 10 victims of financial crimes under FBI investigation. Yaroch admitted making about 100 fraudulent transfers over the year and a half ending in July this year and using the proceeds to repay personal debts. Prosecutors initially accused him of stealing about $1 million in cryptocurrency from one hostile state actor; the amount involved and the scope of victims grew as the investigation continued.