Short Description:
US authorities investigate claims that $40M in seized crypto was stolen by a federal contractor’s son, shaking trust in government asset security.
Read Time: 2 minutes 30 seconds
Main Article:
The US Marshals Service has launched an official investigation into explosive allegations that a federal contractor’s son siphoned over $40 million in government-seized cryptocurrency. The probe follows a detailed on-chain investigation by crypto sleuth ZachXBT, who traced the funds to wallets allegedly controlled by John Daghita. Daghita’s father, Dean Daghita, is president of Command Services & Support (CMDSS), a firm awarded a contract in 2024 to help the US Marshals Service safeguard confiscated digital assets. This incident casts a harsh light on the vulnerabilities within third-party federal asset protection programs.
ZachXBT’s findings suggest the stolen funds originated from addresses linked to seizures made in 2024 and 2025. In a bizarre twist, John Daghita reportedly sent a portion of the stolen Ether—worth about $1,900—directly to ZachXBT’s public wallet. The investigator has pledged to forward any received stolen funds to a US government seizure address. This high-profile case has drawn attention from the White House Crypto Council, with Director Patrick Witt stating he is “on it,” signaling the matter’s seriousness at the highest levels.
This alleged theft raises critical questions about the security of the vast cryptocurrency holdings managed by the US government. According to public data, US authorities potentially hold over 328,000 Bitcoin from various seizures, worth approximately $30 billion. This incident follows other high-profile losses, like South Korea’s reported $48 million phishing scam involving seized Bitcoin, underscoring a global challenge for law enforcement agencies tasked with securing volatile digital assets. For the Finance sector and cryptocurrency investors, it underscores the persistent risks of custody and the intricate legal dance surrounding digital asset seizure and management.
Short Summary:
US authorities are investigating the alleged theft of over $40M in government-seized cryptocurrency, linked to a federal contractor’s family. The case, uncovered by on-chain sleuthing, exposes significant vulnerabilities in the custody of seized digital assets and questions the security protocols around the US government’s massive crypto holdings. This event stresses the ongoing challenges in digital asset management for law enforcement and the finance sector.
