National Crime Agency officer charged after alleged theft of £60,000 of Bitcoin
A National Crime Agency (NCA) officer has been charged after the alleged theft of almost £60,000 of Bitcoin while investigating online organised crime, police and prosecutors have said.
Paul Chowles, 42, has been charged with 15 offences relating to the alleged theft of 50 Bitcoin in 2017, a spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said.
The cryptocurrency was worth nearly £60,000 eight years ago, the force said.
Chowles, an NCA operational officer from Bristol, faces 11 counts of concealing, disguising, or converting criminal property, three counts of acquiring, using or possessing criminal property, and a single count of theft.
He is due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court next month.
Bitcoin, invented in 2008, is the biggest and oldest type of cryptocurrency.
According to online converters, 50 Bitcoin would now be worth more than £3m.
Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) special crime division, said: “We have authorised Merseyside Police to charge National Crime Agency officer Paul Chowles with 15 offences relating to the alleged theft of 50 Bitcoin, worth nearly £60,000 in 2017, during an investigation into online organised crime.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
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“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
The NCA’s mission is to “protect the public from serious and organised crime by targeting and pursuing those criminals who pose the greatest risk to the UK”, it says on its website.