Judge Orders Corrupt DEA Agent to Forfeit Stolen Bitcoin

A US district judge has signed a court order mandating a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agent arrested in connection with the Silk Road investigation forfeit hundreds of bitcoins to the federal government.

On 9th July, US District Judge Richard Seeborg approved the preliminary order against Carl Force IV, requiring the surrender of roughly 690 bitcoins. The order will be finalized at the time of sentencing.

Force, who plead guilty to extortion, money laundering and obstruction of justice charges earlier this month after being arrested in the spring, was one of two agents accused of illegally handling bitcoins during the US government's investigation of the now-defunct dark market.

The forfeited amount includes $13,045 in bitcoin held in a BTC-e account, $17,759.06 used in connection with Engedi LLC, a cryptocurrency venture previously cited in court documents, and $65,658.51 held in an E-Trade account.

The order also approved a $500,000 money judgment against Force.

The announcement follows the news that Shaun Bridges, the Secret Service agent who allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in bitcoin during the investigation, had agreed to a plea deal with federal prosecutors.

The full court order can be found below:

Carl Force Forfeiture Order

Legal image via Shutterstock