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NCA officer jailed for Bitcoin theft

Paul Chowles was sentenced to five and a half years for stealing nearly £60,000 in Bitcoin.

July 16, 2025 at 05:07 PM

Officer who stole Bitcoin from crime network on dark web jailed

A former officer exploited his position to steal cryptocurrency from a crime network.

NCA officer jailed for stealing Bitcoin from crime network

Paul Chowles, a 42-year-old officer from the National Crime Agency, received a sentence of five and a half years for stealing nearly £60,000 worth of Bitcoin. He transferred the funds from a drug trafficker's account on the dark web into his own accounts. The theft went unnoticed until the value of the stolen Bitcoin increased significantly, bringing its worth to over £4.4 million at the time of sentencing. The Crown Prosecution Service revealed Chowles spent around £144,580 from the stolen amount before being apprehended.

Key Takeaways

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NCA officer sentenced for Bitcoin theft

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Stolen Bitcoin's value surged to over £4.4 million

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Corruption erodes public trust in law enforcement

"Chowles exploited his position to line his own pockets."

This quote illustrates how Chowles misused his role in the NCA for personal gain.

"The 50 Bitcoin he stole is now worth over £4.4 million."

This emphasizes the significant increase in value of the cryptocurrency since the theft.

Chowles's case highlights how corruption within law enforcement can undermine public trust. It raises serious questions about the measures in place to prevent such abuses of power. As cryptocurrencies become more valuable, their potential for misuse grows, making it critical for law enforcement agencies to tighten controls and oversight.