Bristolpost Ex-NCA Officer Ordered to Repay £1.8M After Bitcoin Theft
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- •Paul Chowles stole 50 Bitcoin during a criminal investigation.
- •He was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for theft and money laundering.
- •The value of the stolen Bitcoin increased from £60,000 to £1.8 million.
Paul Chowles, a former officer of the National Crime Agency (NCA), was ordered to repay £1.8 million after stealing 50 Bitcoin during an investigation into dark web criminal activities. Chowles, 44, was jailed for five and a half years in 2025 after pleading guilty to theft and money laundering. The Bitcoin, initially valued at £60,000, surged in value, leading to the confiscation order issued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Chowles exploited his position to transfer the Bitcoin from a confiscated wallet, attempting to disguise the transaction through various cryptocurrency methods. A total of 30 Bitcoin was recovered from him following an investigation by Merseyside Police. The CPS emphasized the importance of confiscation orders in ensuring that crime does not pay. Chowles was dismissed from the NCA in July 2025, shortly before his sentencing.
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