Crypto Social Engineer Pleads Guilty After $13M Bitcoin Theft

A 20-year-old Canadian who used fake tech-support calls to steal roughly 185 Bitcoin pleaded guilty Monday to federal money-laundering charges in Miami. Trenton Richard David Johnston admitted he and an accomplice impersonated Google employees to trick victims into handing over wallet access. The stolen funds paid for a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and jewelry worth over $1 million.

The scheme worked on a simple premise. Johnston and Brandon Michael Tardibone called targets claiming urgent account issues. Once the victims shared remote access or seed phrases, the pair drained the wallets. One victim lost 185 BTC. At the time, that haul was worth about $13 million.

A traffic stop in March 2026 unraveled the operation. Police pulled over Johnston's Rolls-Royce in North Miami for speeding. He had overstayed his US visa. The stop led investigators to the stolen assets and the money-laundering trail.

Johnston entered his guilty plea June 10 in US District Court in Miami. The charges cover conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. As part of the plea deal, he agreed to deportation to Canada after sentencing. His co-conspirator, Tardibone, faces separate charges for harboring Johnston and money laundering. Those remain pending.

The case shows how old-school phone scams still drain seven-figure sums from crypto holders. No legitimate tech support agent will ever ask for a seed phrase or private key. Google does not call customers about account problems. If someone calls claiming an urgent security issue, hang up. Dial the company's official number yourself.

Tardibone's pending charges could reveal more about how the pair identified targets and moved the Bitcoin. Court dates have not been set.