Ex-US Contractor Accused of Stealing $46M in Crypto

A man federal authorities say was trusted to help safeguard seized digital assets is now accused of secretly taking tens of millions of dollars for himself. French authorities on the Caribbean island of St. Martin have arrested John Daghita, a former U.S. government contractor accused of siphoning more than $46 million in cryptocurrency from the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI announced Thursday. FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that Daghita was taken into custody during a joint operation with the French Gendarmerie’s top tactical unit.

Daghita had worked for Command Services & Support, a Virginia-based firm run by his father that held contracts to help manage digital assets seized in federal cases, according to the New York Post, which cited his now-deleted LinkedIn profile. He allegedly gained access to private cryptocurrency addresses through his father’s role at the company, the Post reported. When authorities arrested Daghita, they found a briefcase filled with cash and several USB drives, according to Fox News. The U.S. Marshals Service has long been responsible for handling and auctioning cryptocurrency seized in criminal investigations.

Patel thanked French counterparts in Saint Martin and Guadeloupe for what he called “outstanding coordination,” adding that the FBI will continue working with international partners to track down anyone who tries to cheat U.S. taxpayers, no matter where they attempt to hide.

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