Ex-FBI agent charged with stealing $1M in crypto, used ChatGPT for advice

During searches of his home and devices, investigators recovered a Trezor hardware wallet and handwritten cryptocurrency seed phrases. According to the affidavit, agents found a Kraken account with a balance of about $188,570, including roughly $166,000 in U.S. dollars and nearly $18,000 in USDC, along with small amounts of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Investigators also recovered several ChatGPT conversations from Yaroch's phone. According to the affidavit, on May 28 he asked how he should invest or spend $1 million "to maximize profit and return." Less than a week later, he asked what someone with about $1 million should do to leave the U.S. and become a resident or citizen of a European Union country. Later searches included whether Americans need a visa when connecting through Turkey and help drafting a follow-up email about a job opportunity and life in Greece.

Investigators also found evidence of a planned family trip to Portugal, power-of-attorney documents related to Portugal, and what prosecutors described as previously unreported foreign travel. Prosecutors argue the evidence, along with Yaroch's admissions and the recovered cryptocurrency, established probable cause for his arrest on July 31.

"FBI WF Agents mentioned to Yaroch that they located the power of attorney forms for Portugal. Yaroch stated he was not planning to funnel money into Portugal," the complaint said. "Yaroch told FBI WF Agents that his family had a trip planned to Portugal in September 2026 to meet friends. Yaroch realized he might not be able to attend the trip but stated he hoped his wife and child would still go on the trip."