Canadian pleads guilty in Miami case over $13m crypto support-call scam
A 20-year-old Canadian has pleaded guilty in a Miami federal case linked to more than $13 million in stolen cryptocurrency, after investigators said fake support calls were used to empty a victim’s Bitcoin wallet.
Trenton Richard David Johnston pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to Benzinga, which cited prosecutors and court records in the case.
The Justice Department stated in May that Johnston and other alleged co-conspirators pretended to be support representatives from a popular search engine and cryptocurrency-related companies while he was living in the Miami area.
Once the victims’ digital accounts and crypto wallets were accessed, prosecutors said the conspirators transferred cryptocurrency holdings for their own benefit. Investigators estimated losses of more than $13 million, with additional victims still being identified.
The Scam Used Fake Support Calls, Not a Blockchain Hack
Federal prosecutors described the method as impersonation. According to the DOJ, Johnston and others allegedly posed as support representatives from a popular search engine and cryptocurrency-related companies to gain unauthorized access to digital accounts and wallets.
Benzinga reported that court filings linked the scheme to impersonation of Google and cryptocurrency company representatives. CryptoBriefing also reported that the scheme involved fake tech-support personnel from companies like Google.
That difference matters to crypto holders. The case was not portrayed by prosecutors as a technical attack on Bitcoin itself; it was a social-engineering case revolving around people who allegedly sounded like trusted support staff.
A 185-Bitcoin Loss Became the Center of the Case
Benzinga reported that one California victim lost 185 Bitcoin, worth about $13 million at the time. According to the outlet, investigators cited Signal messages in which Johnston allegedly wrote, "We actually smacked a 185 BTC target today."
CryptoBriefing reported that Johnston entered his guilty plea on June 10 in U.S. District Court in Miami, and that the plea was linked to at least $13.04 million in stolen digital assets.
Johnston’s plea was for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The DOJ’s earlier release said Johnston had also been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, but the public plea-focused reports cited in this article center on the money-laundering conspiracy.
A Rolls-Royce Stop Added the Luxury-Spending Hook
CryptoBriefing reported that a March 2026 traffic stop involving a Rolls-Royce Cullinan in North Miami helped draw investigators toward Johnston.
The DOJ’s May announcement said Johnston and co-defendant Brandon Michael Tardibone were accused of laundering proceeds through financial transactions designed to conceal the nature and source of the funds. Prosecutors said the two allegedly used more than $1 million in proceeds to lease luxury vehicles, buy high-end jewelry, and fund an extravagant nightlife and entertainment lifestyle.
Benzinga, citing court filings, reported that luxury spending linked to the case included a Lamborghini, two BMWs, jewelry, nightclub spending, private jet travel, and short-term rental properties.
The Justice Department also said Johnston had overstayed his visa and remained in the United States unlawfully. CryptoBriefing reported that he agreed to deportation to Canada after sentencing as part of his plea agreement.
The Miami Co-Defendant Faces Separate Charges
The DOJ said Tardibone, 28, of Miami, was accused of knowingly harboring Johnston while Johnston was unlawfully present in the United States by providing lodging at a luxury Miami-area residence.
The May indictment charged Johnston with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Tardibone was charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and harboring an alien in the United States, according to the DOJ.
CryptoBriefing reported that Tardibone continues to face separate charges related to harboring Johnston and conspiracy to launder money. Those charges remain pending, according to that report.
The Justice Department said Homeland Security Investigations Miami handled the investigation with assistance from the FDIC Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Golden Beach Police Department.
Fake Support Calls Remain a Crypto Red Flag
Crypto scams often appear complex after the money moves, but the initial contact can be simple. A fake support representative can claim an account or wallet is in danger, then pressure the victim to hand over codes, credentials, remote access, wallet information, or other details needed to move funds.
The FBI has said cryptocurrency-related losses reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center exceeded $11 billion in 2025, up from the previous year. Benzinga cited that broader figure while reporting on Johnston’s plea.
For anyone holding cryptocurrency, the warning is clear: do not trust an incoming call, message, or email that claims to be from Google, a crypto wallet company, an exchange, or a security team. End the contact and go directly to the company’s official app or website.
Technology & Business Editor
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