FBI Arrests Federal Contractor's Son for Stealing $46M in Crypto From US Marshals
In a dramatic international operation, the FBI has arrested John "Lick" Daghita, the son of a federal contractor, for allegedly stealing approximately $46 million worth of cryptocurrency from the U.S. Marshals Service. The arrest took place on the Caribbean island of St. Martin, carried out jointly by FBI agents and an elite tactical unit of the French military.
The Arrest: Cash, Hard Drives, and a Caribbean Hideout
Daghita was apprehended traveling with a metal briefcase containing wads of hundred-dollar bills, along with numerous hard drives and security keys. His father, Dean Daghita, is the president of CMDSS, a firm that provides critical services for federal agencies including the Justice Department and the Department of Defense.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest on X, stating: "FBI will continue working 24/7 with our international partners to track down, apprehend, and bring to justice those who attempt to defraud American taxpayers — no matter where they try to hide."
ZachXBT: The Blockchain Sleuth Who Cracked the Case
The alleged theft was first exposed in January by ZachXBT, a pseudonymous blockchain investigator with a long track record of uncovering crypto misconduct. ZachXBT published group chats and on-chain data showing Daghita apparently bragging to other alleged hackers about the amount of money he stole from the U.S. government.
In a particularly brazen move, Daghita reportedly moved approximately $23 million worth of crypto — predominantly in Ethereum — from wallet to wallet to prove to a jeering rival that he actually possessed the funds. ZachXBT connected this money to funds seized by the U.S. government in 2024, related to the infamous 2016 Bitfinex hack.
From Government Custody to Criminal Hands
The stolen cryptocurrency was part of the U.S. government's seized crypto holdings from the 2016 Bitfinex hack, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchange breaches in history. The fact that these funds were stolen while under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service raises serious questions about the security protocols governing government-held digital assets.
After ZachXBT publicly made the allegations, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed it was actively investigating the matter. Daghita's father, Dean, did not respond to media requests for comment.
Taunting the Investigator
After being publicly accused, Daghita reportedly taunted ZachXBT in Telegram messages and sent small amounts of the stolen funds to the investigator's wallet — a common tactic known as "dusting" used to implicate unconsenting crypto users in malfeasance. On the day of the arrest, ZachXBT celebrated on X with a pointed message: "Thanks for the last laugh, John."
The Bottom Line
This case exposes a glaring vulnerability in how the U.S. government secures its growing crypto holdings. When the son of a federal contractor can allegedly walk away with $46 million in seized digital assets, it suggests the custodial infrastructure for government-held crypto needs a serious overhaul. The fact that a pseudonymous blockchain investigator exposed the theft before federal agencies acted only makes it more embarrassing.