Patrick Steven Yaroch, a former FBI supervisory special agent, has been charged with the receipt and interstate transportation of stolen goods. Yaroch, who held a Top Secret security clearance, allegedly stole nearly $1 million in cryptocurrency from wallets linked to FBI counterintelligence investigations.
The alleged thefts occurred between early 2025 and July 2026 while Yaroch was working within the FBI's Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. Yaroch admitted to investigators that he accessed FBI systems to obtain cryptocurrency wallet seed phrases connected to investigations involving an unnamed foreign adversary.
$1,000,000
The approximate amount of cryptocurrency allegedly stolen by Yaroch.
Investigators stated that Yaroch transferred funds into accounts under his control approximately 10 times, resulting in holdings of about $1 million. During searches of Yaroch's home and devices, investigators recovered a Trezor hardware wallet and handwritten cryptocurrency seed phrases.
ChatGPT inquiries and relocation plans
Digital evidence indicates Yaroch used ChatGPT for several inquiries regarding his finances and potential relocation. On May 28, Yaroch asked the AI how to invest or spend $1 million 'to maximize profit and return.' He also asked how an individual with approximately $1 million could leave the U.S. to become a resident or citizen of a European Union country.
Conversations on Yaroch's phone also included questions about whether Americans require a visa when connecting through Turkey and help drafting an email regarding a job opportunity and life in Greece. Additionally, investigators found evidence of a planned family trip to Portugal and power-of-attorney documents related to the country.
His family had a trip planned to Portugal in September 2026 to meet friends.
— Yaroch to FBI WF Agents
On July 28, 2026, prosecutors stated that Yaroch contacted DOJ Employee 1 via Signal to request a meeting regarding personal matters. Prosecutors argued that his admissions and the recovered cryptocurrency established probable cause for his arrest on July 31.
Updates
Patrick Steven Yarmoch allegedly turned himself in to colleagues, admitting to using FBI-dug crypto keys to execute up to a dozen transfers from accounts tied to foreign individuals he had investigated. Prior to his arrest on July 31, the Ashburn-based agent was suspended for a few days, and investigators noted he had used Kraken, Suilend, and a Slush wallet to handle the digital assets. Additionally, it is alleged that Yarmoch consulted ChatGPT regarding relocating to an EU country and had previously taken unreported trips to Germany, Portugal, and Grenada in violation of FBI rules.
Court filings identify the suspect as Patrick Steven Yarmoch, who turned himself in after allegedly extracting cryptocurrency keys from FBI systems to conduct a dozen transfers to personal Kraken and Suilend accounts. Following a brief suspension, Yarmoch was terminated and arrested on July 31, and he is currently being detained in Alexandria, Virginia. Investigations reveal he made unreported trips to Germany, Portugal, and Grenada, and allegedly consulted ChatGPT for advice on relocating to an EU nation with his funds, though he denies intent to move the assets to Portugal.
Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Patrick Steven Yaroch, identified as a resident of Ashburn, Virginia, has confessed to transferring crypto keys from agency systems to his personal accounts at Kraken and Suilend. After being terminated on July 31, Yaroch voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to government-controlled wallets. He admitted to the DOJ that he acted out of frustration with the Bureau's efforts against adversarial assets, while also revealing he had sought legal assistance in Lisbon to establish residency in Portugal despite previously denying such plans.
Following his arrest on July 31, Patrick Steven Yaroch voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to government-controlled wallets after his Ashburn, Virginia residence was searched. The former agent confessed his actions to a Department of Justice employee, stating that the shame was 'eating him up inside,' and admitted to using investigative crypto keys to conduct up to a dozen transfers. To facilitate his relocation, Yaroch allegedly used ChatGPT to research EU residency, specifically identifying Portugal as a favored destination, and even obtained power of attorney for lawyers in Lisbon to secure a tax identification number.
Following his arrest on July 31, former Supervisory Special Agent Patrick Steven Yaroch voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to government-controlled wallets after a search of his Ashburn, Virginia, residence. Yaroch reportedly confessed his actions to a Department of Justice employee, claiming that
Following a search of his Ashburn, Virginia residence, Yaroch voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to US government-controlled wallets. The unsealed court records also reveal that the former agent reportedly confessed his actions to a Department of Justice employee, claiming he took matters into his own hands due to frustration with the Bureau's effectiveness. Additionally, investigations into his relocation plans suggest he used ChatGPT to research citizenship and investment advice rather than just vacationing.
Following his arrest, Yaroch voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to government-controlled wallets after his Ashburn residence was searched. The investigation revealed that Yaroch allegedly used ChatGPT to research relocation and investment advice, including queries about turning $1 million into investments and establishing a life in Italy or Portugal. While he reportedly confessed his actions to a Department of Justice employee, court records confirm he was charged with possession of stolen property and interstate transportation of stolen goods.
Following his arrest, Yaroch voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to government-controlled wallets after a search of his residence. The investigation revealed that he used ChatGPT to research relocation and investment advice for turning $1 million into assets, specifically inquiring about life in Italy and Portugal. Additionally, Yaroch reportedly confessed his actions to a Department of Justice employee, admitting he took matters into his own hands due to frustration with the Bureau.
Following his arrest on July 31, Patrick Steven Yaroch voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to government-controlled wallets after a search of his residence. The investigation revealed that Yaroch allegedly used ChatGPT to research relocation and investment advice for moving to the EU and had even obtained power of attorney for lawyers in Lisbon. While he claimed to believe the stolen amount was under $1 million due to co-mingling funds with personal assets, investigators detected approximately $1 million in his digital wallet.
Following his resignation and arrest, Yaroch voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to US government-controlled wallets after investigators located the funds in his digital assets. Court documents further reveal that Yaroch utilized ChatGPT to research relocation and investment advice for a potential life in Portugal or Italy and allegedly used Kraken and Suilend to manage the stolen assets. Additionally, Yaroch confessed his actions to a Department of Justice employee, stating he took matters into his own hands due to frustration with the Bureau.
Following the investigation, Yaroch voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to government-controlled wallets after his Ashburn residence was searched. Court documents unsealed Monday reveal that the former agent confessed his actions to a Department of Justice employee, stating he 'took matters into my own hands' due to frustration with the Bureau. Additionally, while initially reported as $1 million, Yaroch claimed the stolen amount was actually less than that as the funds had been co-mingled with his personal assets.
Following his arrest on July 31, Yaroch has voluntarily returned $925,426.07 of the stolen funds to government-controlled wallets. Court documents unsealed on Monday reveal that the former agent confessed his actions to a Department of Justice employee, stating he
Following his confession to a Department of Justice employee, Yaroch voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to government-controlled wallets after investigators searched his Ashburn residence. Court documents unsealed Monday further reveal that Yaroch allegedly used ChatGPT to research relocation and investment advice to fund a lifestyle in Portugal or Italy. He now faces felony charges, including possession of stolen property, which carry a potential maximum penalty of 10 years of incarceration each.
Following his surrender and subsequent arrest on July 31, Yaroch voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to government-controlled wallets. Court documents reveal the theft involved cryptocurrency linked to investigations of Russia, which Yaroch allegedly accessed by memorizing recovery phrases from FBI systems. The former agent has also faced felony charges that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years of incarceration each.
Patrick Steven Yaroch reportedly voluntarily returned $925,426.07 to government-controlled wallets following a search of his residence. The investigation revealed that Yaroch used ChatGPT to research relocation and investment advice for his potential move to Europe, and he allegedly memorized recovery phrases to facilitate transfers via a Slush wallet. Furthermore, court documents indicate the stolen funds were linked to accounts tied to Russia.
Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Patrick Steven Yaroch, who previously worked in a national security unit investigating Russia, has voluntarily returned $925,426.07 in cryptocurrency to government-controlled wallets following a search of his Ashburn, Virginia, residence. Investigators revealed that Yaroch allegedly memorized recovery phrases from internal systems to conduct approximately 10 to 12 transfers, using platforms like Kraken and Suilend to co-mingle the stolen assets with his own. Facing felony charges that carry a maximum of 10 years per count, Yaroch reportedly confessed his actions to a DOJ employee, citing frustration with the Bureau's inability to disrupt adversarial asset
