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A 20-year-old Canadian man has been sentenced to 25 months in prison for a crypto theft scheme that netted approximately $13 million in Bitcoin from a California resident, after investigators uncovered fraudulent support calls, messages celebrating the crime and evidence of an extravagant lifestyle. Tyler Johnston, who began the scheme at 17, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in June 2026 and received his sentence on October 26.
The case, reported by Cybernews on October 29, highlights how criminals can exploit trust in customer-support services to gain access to cryptocurrency wallets. Prosecutors said Johnston and an accomplice stole 185 bitcoins from a victim on March 13, 2026, after impersonating representatives of technology and cryptocurrency companies.
The investigation also revealed that Johnston discussed his activities with an accomplice in private messages, boasting about the amount stolen. His spending eventually attracted law enforcement attention in North Miami, Florida, where a traffic stop led to the seizure of electronic devices and handwritten notes containing cryptocurrency wallet codes.
According to the report, Johnston’s scheme began in January 2024, when he was 17. He and his accomplices allegedly impersonated customer-support representatives from Google, cryptocurrency companies and hardware wallet provider Trezor to deceive victims into revealing access credentials.
The approach relied on social engineering rather than a direct attack on blockchain technology. By posing as legitimate support personnel, the perpetrators persuaded victims to hand over information that allowed them to access digital wallets.
One of the largest incidents occurred on March 13, 2026, when Johnston and an accomplice stole 185 bitcoins from a California resident. The cryptocurrency was worth approximately $13 million at the time, according to the report.
The victim provided access codes during a fraudulent support call, allowing the perpetrators to access the funds.
The incident illustrates a persistent security challenge for cryptocurrency holders: transactions recorded on a blockchain may be difficult or impossible to reverse once assets have been transferred, making the protection of wallet credentials particularly important.
Investigators also uncovered messages in which Johnston celebrated the proceeds with an accomplice. The report refers to Signal messages in its account of the investigation, while the quoted boast is subsequently attributed to Discord.
“We actually smacked a 185btc target today…Club feels mad good after today …We ain’t done,” Johnston wrote, according to the report.
The message suggested that the perpetrators viewed the theft as part of an ongoing operation rather than an isolated incident.
Prosecutors said Johnston used money from the scheme to finance an expensive lifestyle in Miami, including luxury vehicles, jewellery, private jet rentals and frequent nights out.
Among the vehicles associated with his spending was a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, alongside two BMWs. He was also travelling in a white Rolls-Royce Cullinan when a sheriff’s deputy stopped the vehicle in North Miami.
The traffic stop became a turning point in the investigation.
During the stop and subsequent search, the deputy discovered amphetamines inside a Hermès bag. Authorities also seized Johnston’s phone and computer, along with handwritten notes containing cryptocurrency wallet codes.
Those items provided investigators with potential evidence connecting the suspect to digital asset transactions and the methods used to access cryptocurrency wallets.
Johnston pleaded guilty in June 2026 to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced on October 26 to 25 months in prison.
Prosecutors had initially recommended a sentence of between 51 and 63 months. According to the report, the recommended term was reduced because Johnston cooperated with law enforcement in efforts to identify and track down other people involved in the criminal activity.
His defence lawyer, Brooke C. Watson, said Johnston had acknowledged his actions and expressed remorse.
“He quickly admitted his conduct,” Watson said, according to CBC News.
The lawyer also described Johnston as “tremendously sorry for what he has done,” the report said.
Following his arrest, Johnston surrendered $3.8 million in Bitcoin and Ether, according to his defence lawyer. The reported surrender represents a substantial amount of cryptocurrency, although it does not establish that all the stolen assets were recovered or that the victim received full compensation.
Johnston is expected to be deported to Canada after serving his prison sentence. His separate Florida drug-possession case remains unresolved, according to Cybernews.
The sentence closes a significant stage of the criminal proceedings while leaving questions about the wider network and the recovery of assets.
The crypto theft case also highlights the importance of verifying communications that request sensitive account information. Cryptocurrency users should be cautious of unsolicited support calls, avoid sharing wallet credentials or recovery phrases and contact service providers through independently verified channels.
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