Trenton Johnston, a Canadian, was sentenced to 25 months in prison for his role in a cryptocurrency scam that drove 185 Bitcoin, or about $13 million. To convince a victim that their accounts were compromised, the scheme entailed posing as Google and Trezor support agents.

Johnston's lavish lifestyle, which included expensive automobiles, jewellery, and private travel, was funded by the stolen money. His cooperation with investigators, his arrest in Miami, and his guilty plea brought the matter to sentencing; deportation to Canada was then anticipated.

Fake Google and Trezor Support Calls Led to $13 Million Theft

Johnston and an accomplice pretended to be technical support agents from Google and cryptocurrency hardware wallet supplier Trezor to target a victim in California in March 2026. They obtained access codes that let them steal 185 Bitcoin, worth about $13 million at the time, after persuading the victim that their accounts were in danger.

Instead of an alleged Bitcoin breach, the case concerned social engineering. The scammers used impersonation and the victim's perception that they were interacting with real support personnel.

Investigators also linked Johnston to a larger operation targeting cryptocurrency owners. The US Department of Justice claims that the alleged operation resulted in losses of more than $13 million, and when the indictment was made public in May 2026, police were still looking for any victims.

Johnston Bragged About the Theft on Signal & Discord

Johnston took little action to maintain the operation's secrecy. Following the theft, he allegedly boasted to his partner over Signal that they had taken 185 Bitcoin. Additionally, he demonstrated how the frauds were executed and shared his techniques with others on Discord. These exchanges turned into crucial pieces of evidence for the inquiry.

His enthusiasm for the stolen money was evident in his own texts. Instead of hiding the activities, he showed others how the operation operated and talked about the successful heist with his buddies. He was later linked to the cryptocurrency fraud by investigators using information acquired during the case.

THIS IS ACTUALLY CRAZY!

A 19 year old named Trenton Johnston stole 185 BTC worth $13 MILLION with just one phone call.

He called pretending to be Google and Trezor support and told the victim their wallet was getting hacked.

They panicked and handed over their keys.

He blew the money on a Lamborghini, a Rolls-Royce and private jets.

Then went and bragged about it on Signal and Discord.

11 days later, cops caught him for speeding in that same Rolls-Royce.

The victim lost all his life savings, but this guy only got a 25-month sentence.

If you're in crypto, never share your keys with anyone. Not even "support."

— Ash Crypto (@AshCrypto) October 29, 2026

Lamborghini, BMWs & Rolls Royce Spending Spree

Johnston used the money to purchase expensive cars, jewellery, and luxury travel. A Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, two BMWs, and a Rolls-Royce Cullinan were among the vehicles he bought and rented. He also spent money on Miami's nightlife and private jet flights. Over $1 million in illegal gains, according to the prosecution, were used for entertainment, jewellery, and high-end cars.

Just 11 days after the claimed theft of the 185 Bitcoin, in March 2026, police arrested him for speeding in Miami, drawing more attention to his spending. When he was taken into custody, he was seated at the rear of the Rolls-Royce. After that, investigators looked at information that connected him to the larger bitcoin fraud scheme.

The contrast between the scale of the theft and his conspicuous spending became a central detail in the case. His messages, online demonstrations and financial activity provided investigators with evidence beyond the victim's account of the scam.

Guilty Plea Brings 25 Month Sentence & Deportation Risk

Johnston entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit money laundering, and on October 26, 2026, a federal judge in Miami sentenced him to 25 months in jail. He was given credit for the time he had already spent in jail. Additionally, he gave up about $3.8 million in cryptocurrency, including Ether and Bitcoin.

Johnston was spared a separate charge of wire fraud conspiracy because of the plea deal. The prosecution also recognised his significant contribution to other people's investigations. According to his defence attorney, he swiftly acknowledged his actions and showed regret.

Following his release from prison, Johnston is anticipated to be deported to Canada. His arrest also resulted in another Florida drug possession case that was listed as pending.

The case highlights how impersonation of trusted technology and wallet support services can result in major cryptocurrency losses without a direct attack on the underlying blockchain.

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