In a significant breach of trust, Paul Chowles, a National Crime Agency officer, stole 50 Bitcoin from a seized wallet linked to Thomas White, a Silk Road 2.0 operator, in 2017. Initially valued at about 60,000 pounds, the stolen BTC skyrocketed to over 4.4 million pounds by the time Chowles was apprehended. To obscure the theft, he funneled the Bitcoin through a crypto-mixing service and various accounts, attempting to distance himself from the funds. Investigators initially suspected White, but blockchain analysis ultimately traced the crime back to Chowles. Following his release from a previous conviction, White alerted authorities, leading to Chowles' investigation. Digital forensics uncovered connections to Chowles through his work-related access to the wallet. In 2025, he pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to five and a half years in prison. The case highlights the importance of blockchain transparency and the risks posed by trusted insiders. After the conviction, authorities managed to recover nearly 470,000 pounds from Chowles’ accounts, demonstrating the state’s capability to trace and reclaim misappropriated digital assets.

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