- Johnston received 25 months in U.S. prison for a crypto laundering conspiracy.
- A California victim lost his life savings of 185 Bitcoin, worth about $13 million.
- Johnston surrendered about $3.8 million in stolen Bitcoin and Ether after his arrest.
Trenton Richard David (Trent) Johnston, a 20-year-old Canadian citizen, received a 25-month U.S. prison sentence after admitting to a money laundering conspiracy involving stolen cryptocurrency. The Miami case included a California victim who lost 185 Bitcoin, then worth about $13 million, which Johnston spent on luxury cars, jewelry, and a private jet rental.
A federal judge in Miami sentenced Johnston on Monday after he pleaded guilty and surrendered about $3.8 million in stolen digital assets. He has remained in custody since his arrest in March and faces deportation to Canada after his prison term.
Fake Support Claims and a California Victim’s $13 Million Loss
Investigators with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations found that Johnston impersonated Google technical support personnel and representatives of cryptocurrency companies. Using those false identities, he persuaded cryptocurrency holders to share their wallet codes.
In March, Johnston and an unnamed co-conspirator took 185 Bitcoin from a California victim, according to court documents. The holdings represented the victim’s life savings, valued at approximately $13 million at the time.
Johnston spoke about the theft in text messages cited in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Miami.
“We actually smacked a 185BTC target today,” he wrote to his accomplice. Another message read, “Club feels mad good after today.” He then added, “And we ain’t done.”
A witness interviewed by investigators said Johnston also shared his screen on the social platform Discord to show others how he carried out the thefts.
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Luxury Cars and a Private Jet Rental Appear in Court Filings
Prosecutors described Johnston’s spending as an “extravagant nightlife and entertainment lifestyle” after he moved to the Miami, Florida, area in 2024. Their account included purchases of a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, two BMWs, and jewelry, along with a private jet rental.
Johnston was 19 when authorities arrested him in March. He was seated in the back of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV that smelled of “freshly burned marijuana,” court documents said.
In a court filing, defense attorney Brooke C. Watson said Johnston surrendered all of the stolen cryptocurrency in his possession following his arrest. The digital assets he handed over totaled about $3.8 million in Bitcoin and Ether.
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