A U.S. government contractor accused of stealing more than $46 million in cryptocurrency from digital wallets managed for the U.S. Marshals Service has been arrested in an international law-enforcement operation spanning multiple countries.
John Daghita was taken into custody late Wednesday on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. The arrest was carried out by France’s elite Groupe d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN) working alongside the FBI’s Washington Field Office, its international offices in Paris and Bridgetown, Barbados, and the French Gendarmerie’s International Cooperation Team Serious Crime Unit stationed in Saint Martin.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the operation in a statement posted on Twitter.
“Last night, John Daghita – a U.S. government contractor who allegedly stole more than $46 million in cryptocurrency from the U.S Marshals Service – was arrested on the island of Saint Martin by the French Gendarmerie’s premier elite tactical unit in a joint operation with the FBI,” Patel wrote.
Images released by investigators show Daghita in custody alongside items allegedly seized during the operation: a suitcase containing large stacks of cash, several passports, hardware cryptocurrency wallets, and other electronic devices.
Authorities say Daghita worked as a contractor with access to the digital infrastructure used to manage cryptocurrency assets seized in federal criminal investigations. According to investigators, that position gave him the ability to handle private keys and wallets holding digital funds under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Daghita is reportedly the son of Dean Daghita, president and chief executive officer of the Virginia-based firm Command Services & Support (CMDSS). The company has held contracts with the Marshals Service since at least 2024 to help manage and liquidate cryptocurrencies confiscated in federal cases, including assets connected to major cybercrime investigations such as the 2016 Bitfinex hack.
The alleged theft first surfaced publicly earlier this year through blockchain investigator ZachXBT, who began tracing suspicious transfers in January. Using on-chain analysis, the investigator linked wallets believed to contain stolen funds to an online persona known as “Lick,” later identified as Daghita.
🚨Breaking: John Daghita, accused of stealing $46M+ in crypto from US Marshals, arrested last night in Saint Martin by French elite Gendarmerie + @FBI joint op. No hiding from justice! 🇺🇸💪 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/PnIMCqxUvM
— Trump Girl (@TrumpGirlLove) March 6, 2026
Investigators say the suspect allegedly boasted in private Telegram groups about controlling tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency and shared screenshots displaying large wallet balances. Early estimates placed the missing funds at roughly $40 million. Further tracing later pushed the figure above $46 million.
The case has raised new questions about how federal agencies safeguard digital assets seized during criminal investigations. The U.S. Marshals Service, which is responsible for holding and eventually liquidating confiscated cryptocurrency, relies on outside contractors to help manage the highly technical process of securing digital wallets and private keys.
Those arrangements have drawn scrutiny before. A 2022 report from the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General warned of weaknesses in how the Marshals Service tracked and safeguarded seized cryptocurrency, noting that inadequate controls could expose assets to loss or mismanagement.
Federal authorities emphasized that the arrest demonstrates the growing reach of international cybercrime enforcement. Patel continued by saying the FBI would “continue working 24/7 with our international partners to track down, apprehend, and bring to justice those who attempt to defraud American taxpayers, no matter where they try to hide.”
Daghita is expected to face federal charges including wire fraud, theft of government property, and money laundering. U.S. officials are preparing extradition proceedings to bring him back to the United States for prosecution.
Authorities have not yet said whether any of the missing cryptocurrency has been recovered. The investigation remains ongoing as agents work to trace the movement of the stolen funds through blockchain networks and associated accounts.
For federal agencies increasingly tasked with managing billions of dollars in seized digital assets, the episode serves as a stark reminder: the security challenge does not end once the government takes custody.
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