Teen Scammer Pleads Guilty After Stealing $13M in Crypto for Lavish Lifestyle

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Teen Scammer Pleads Guilty After Stealing $13M in Crypto for Lavish Lifestyle

First seen 11 Jun 2026, 06:27 UTC • •48.9

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ThreatCluster •June 12, 2026 at 06:08 UTC

•Trenton Richard Johnston stole over $13 million in crypto via social engineering scams.
•He impersonated employees from Google and Trezor to access victims' accounts.
•Johnston used stolen funds for luxury purchases, including cars and private jets.

Trenton Richard Johnston, a Canadian teen, stole over $13 million in cryptocurrency through social engineering scams. He impersonated employees from Google and Trezor to gain access to victims' crypto accounts. Johnston was arrested in March 2026 during a traffic stop, where investigators uncovered his fraud scheme. In May 2026, he was charged and recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. The stolen funds were used to finance a luxurious lifestyle, including luxury cars and private jet trips. Johnston's actions highlight the growing threat of social engineering in the cryptocurrency space. He has since returned approximately 53.16 Bitcoin and 275.23 Ether, valued at $3.7 million. Prosecutors recommend a sentence of 51 to 63 months in prison for Johnston.

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Timeline

2024-01-01

Johnston's scam efforts began

Johnston and co-conspirators started their fraudulent activities targeting crypto users.

2024-02-01

First successful scam executed

Johnston tricked a victim into believing their Google email and Coinbase accounts were compromised, stealing $41,000 in Ether.

2024-02-25

Major theft of $13 million in Bitcoin

Johnston and co-conspirators impersonated Google and Trezor representatives to drain a victim's Bitcoin account.

2026-03-01

Johnston arrested during traffic stop

Johnston was pulled over for speeding in a Rolls-Royce, leading to the discovery of his fraud scheme.

2026-05-01

Johnston charged with conspiracy

US prosecutors charged Johnston with conspiracy to commit money laundering, avoiding additional charges.

2026-06-11

Johnston pleads guilty

Johnston pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a recommended sentence of 51 to 63 months in prison.

More articles in this cluster (3)

Threat Graph

5 entities, 4 inferred relationships (STIX 2.1).

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Technique (2)

Phishing
T1566 - Phishing

Organization (3)

Coinbase
Google
Trezor

Relationships

Phishing related to Coinbase
Phishing related to Google
Phishing related to Trezor
Phishing related to T1566 - Phishing

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