Teen Crypto Fraud Guilty Plea in $13M Bitcoin Scam via Google/Trezor Impersonation

A Canadian citizen, Trenton Richard Johnston, has pleaded guilty in a crypto fraud case tied to social engineering that prosecutors say stole about $13m. Authorities allege Johnston and co-conspirators impersonated trusted brands including Google and Trezor to trick victims into sharing account and wallet access credentials. The scheme targeted crypto holders in early 2024. One victim was allegedly convinced their Google email and Coinbase accounts were compromised, leading to theft of about $41,000 worth of ETH. Later, a California victim was reportedly lured as “Google” and “Trezor” representatives and persuaded that attackers were trying to access their crypto wallet, after which the group drained roughly $13m in Bitcoin. Prosecutors also cite spending of about $1.2m over two months on luxury cars, private jet travel, a North Miami rental property, airline tickets, and jewelry. The case reportedly unraveled in March after Johnston was stopped for speeding while driving a Rolls-Royce; investigators then seized devices and notes. As part of his cooperation, Johnston surrendered 53.16 BTC and 275.23 ETH (about $3.7m at current prices). Prosecutors sought 51–63 months in prison and dismissal of wire-fraud charges with longer potential penalties. A co-defendant, Brandon Tardibone, faces a recommended 27–33 months. For crypto traders, this crypto fraud highlights ongoing wallet-access risk from impersonation. Expect no direct macro market signal, but increased attention to phishing, account takeover, and operational security around exchange and wallet workflows.