Teen Gets Caught for Stashing $13M in Bitcoin

A 20‑year‑old from Canada, named Trenton Johnston, admitted to a crime in Miami. He said he helped move stolen money through fake accounts. The case involves about $13 million in Bitcoin that disappeared from a Californian victim. Johnston used fake emails and phone calls. He pretended to be a Google worker or a crypto company rep. Victims gave him their login details. He then took the money and sent it to accounts he controlled. He lived a fancy life with the stolen funds. He bought a Lamborghini, two BMW cars, jewelry, and even rented houses for short stays. He also flew on private jets and spent money at nightclubs.The crime started when he entered the U. S. in October 2024 on a one‑year visa. He stayed longer than allowed. He worked with friends in Miami who helped hide the money. One of the biggest losses was 185 Bitcoin. That was about $13 million when it vanished. Johnston and a partner celebrated the theft in a secret chat app called Signal. More people are falling for similar scams. The FBI says losses from crypto fraud rose 20 percent last year, reaching $11 billion. Scammers often pose as trusted helpers to trick people into giving up passwords.