Australian Police Officer Accused of Stealing Confiscated 81.6 Bitcoins
Date: 2024-02-16 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: IN WORLD
Allegations Against Australian Police Officer
An officer of the Australian Federal Police, William Wheatley, stands trial for allegedly stealing 81.616 BTC confiscated during an investigation into drug sales using cryptocurrency.
Denial and Legal Defense
William Wheatley, represented by his lawyer Luke Barker, denies the charges, claiming the evidence against him is circumstantial. Barker asserts that Wheatley will contest the allegations.
Investigation Details
The investigation stemmed from a raid conducted by the Icarus task force, along with Victoria state police and the Australian Federal Police, targeting individuals suspected of steroid trafficking. Cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, was discovered to be the mode of payment for illicit substances.
Movement of Cryptocurrency Funds
Following a judge's permission to access a confiscated Trezor hardware wallet containing the Bitcoins, investigators found that all the crypto assets had been moved just four days after confiscation. The value of the seized Bitcoins, initially estimated at $450,000, has surged to over $6 million.
Link to Law Enforcement Headquarters
Investigators traced IP addresses linked to the Australian Federal Police headquarters in Melbourne, uncovering 28 transactions involving the wallet where the confiscated digital assets were sent. A portion of the funds was transferred to Wheatley's personal bank account, who was directly involved in the raid.
Similar Cases Elsewhere
This incident echoes similar occurrences elsewhere, such as in Russia, where former FSB employee Maxim Zhizhkun received a five-year prison sentence for stealing 68 Bitcoins from a hacker under investigation. In another case in Moscow, two police officers were arrested for the theft of 10 Bitcoins valued at 26 million rubles.
The trial of William Wheatley continues as authorities investigate the alleged theft of the confiscated cryptocurrency.
