An FBI agent based in Ashburn, Virginia, was arrested and charged with stealing approximately $1 million in cryptocurrency from wallets belonging to foreign adversaries. Patrick Steven Yaroch, who held top-secret clearance, allegedly used FBI intelligence systems to obtain passphrases and executed 10 to 12 transactions beginning in late 2024. Law enforcement seized $925,426 from his residence during a search on August 3, 2026, the same day he was terminated and arrested. Investigators also found that the agent had queried ChatGPT about fleeing abroad, researching Portugal, Greece, and Turkey as destinations. The theft may have compromised ongoing intelligence operations and sparked calls for stronger internal controls over seized digital assets held by US agencies.
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