Audit log

Every state-changing event for Trenton Johnston — Crypto Social Engineering Theft Ring: moderation decisions on community submissions, plus corrections and updates from the news pipeline. URL-based decisions carry three independent witnesses — the original source, an Internet Archive snapshot taken at submission time, and a Solana memo signed by our publicly-disclosed publisher key.

1. #1publishby system:backfill

   2026-07-02 12:26:58Z
   Score: ? → ? (no score change)
   anchoranchored

   chain

   ●mainnet-betaslot 430,306,481

   sig

   5xxqu8LboSXD…7gwq935Pcopyexplorer ↗

   hash

   3wAamXJ78xfy…Ds5gjk4vcopysha256 → base58

   verifying row…full verify ↗

   canonical bytes (26302 B) ▸

   {"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"c7dd10d7-c435-4a7d-9d81-25f35a00b6d8","kind":"publish","page_slug":"trenton-johnston-crypto-social-engineering-theft-ring","published_at":"2026-07-02T12:26:57.938Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"Trenton Johnston — Crypto Social Engineering Theft Ring","sections":[{"content":"Trenton Richard David Johnston, a Canadian citizen born in approximately 2006, entered the United States from Fort Erie, Ontario to Buffalo, New York in October 2024 on a one-year tourist visa. He subsequently overstayed his authorized stay and remained in the Miami, Florida area unlawfully. At the time of his March 2026 arrest he was 19 years old; he turned 20 while in federal custody. Johnston is distinct from — though alleged to be a co-conspirator of — a US-based individual identified by on-chain investigator ZachXBT as Dritan Kapllani Jr., who appears in court filings as 'Co-Conspirator 1' (CC-1) but has not been formally charged as of July 2026. Brandon Michael Tardibone, 28, a Miami-area exotic car dealer known online as '@Yelo' or 'Yelo Tree,' is charged as a separate co-conspirator for money laundering and for harboring Johnston while Johnston was unlawfully present in the United States.","heading":"Background and Identities","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Press Release — Canadian Illegal Alien and Co-Conspirator Charged in $13 Million Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/canadian-illegal-alien-and-co-conspirator-charged-13-million-cryptocurrency-fraud"},{"credibility":1,"name":"CBC News — Canadian who stole $13M US in crypto bought Lamborghini, BMWs, plea deal says","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trenton-johnston-crypto-fraud-9.7229075"},{"credibility":1,"name":"IRS Criminal Investigation — Canadian illegal alien and co-conspirator charged in $13 million cryptocurrency fraud scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/canadian-illegal-alien-and-co-conspirator-charged-in-13-million-cryptocurrency-fraud-scheme"}]},{"content":"Johnston and co-conspirators allegedly operated a months-long impersonation campaign in which they telephoned and emailed cryptocurrency holders while posing as support representatives from major technology companies and cryptocurrency firms, including Google and hardware wallet provider Trezor. The scheme's core technique involved convincing victims that their accounts or wallets had been compromised and then instructing them to surrender account access codes, seed phrases, or other authentication credentials. Once access was obtained, co-conspirators transferred the victims' cryptocurrency holdings to wallets under their own control. Court filings describe multiple victims, with additional victims continuing to be identified as of the May 2026 indictment. A Signal message recovered by investigators and cited in the Benzinga report of June 2026 quotes Johnston writing to a co-conspirator on March 14, 2026: 'We actually smacked a 185 BTC target today.' A second message attributed to CC-1 in the same filing stated: 'we were always destined to be 8figure n****s.' A third message described plans to convert stolen funds into Monero (XMR) to obscure the trail. The FBI cited in the case materials reported that cryptocurrency-related fraud losses in the United States exceeded $11 billion in 2025, a 20 percent increase from the prior year.","heading":"The Social Engineering Scheme","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Benzinga — 'We Smacked A 185 Bitcoin Target': Canadian Teen Pleads Guilty In $13 Million Crypto Fraud Case","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/06/53185703/we-smacked-a-185-bitcoin-target-canadian-teen-pleads-guilty-in-13-million-crypto-fraud-case"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Press Release — Southern District of Florida","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/canadian-illegal-alien-and-co-conspirator-charged-13-million-cryptocurrency-fraud"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto News — DOJ indicts 19-year-old Canadian and Miami co-conspirator in $13 million crypto fraud scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptonews.net/news/legal/32849997/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto Briefing — Trenton Richard Johnston arrested for $13M crypto scam involving social engineering attacks","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptobriefing.com/johnston-arrested-13m-crypto-scam/"}]},{"content":"The largest single theft attributed to the ring occurred on March 14, 2026, when approximately 185 Bitcoin — valued at roughly $13 million at the time — was stolen from a California-based victim. According to court filings, the victim received two fraudulent calls on March 13, 2026 from individuals claiming to be representatives of Google and Trezor, asserting that someone was attempting to access the victim's wallet. The victim was persuaded to surrender access codes to two digital accounts, after which the funds were drained. On-chain analysis conducted by blockchain investigator ZachXBT, published via TRM Labs diagrams, traced stolen funds splitting across multiple Bitcoin addresses between 1:10 AM and 2:41 AM on March 14, 2026, then bridging from Bitcoin to Ethereum and flowing through wallets attributed to CC-1 (alleged to be Dritan Kapllani Jr.), with final deposits of 334.99, 669.49, 1,004.48, and 517.33 ETH landing in wallet 0x4487db847db2fc99372a985743a26f46e0b2bba6 within hours of the theft. A prior, smaller incident described in court documents involved Johnston convincing a victim that their Google email and Coinbase accounts had been compromised, resulting in the theft of approximately $41,000 in Ether.","heading":"The 185 BTC Theft — Primary Incident","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto Times — ZachXBT Exposes Dritan Kapllani Jr. For $19M 'Social Engineering' Crypto Theft","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/05/12/teenager-exposed-for-19m-social-engineering-crypto-theft-federal-charges-filed/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"CBC News — Canadian who stole $13M US in crypto bought Lamborghini, BMWs, plea deal says","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trenton-johnston-crypto-fraud-9.7229075"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Cryptopolitan — Flight risk or not: Dritan Kapllani Jr. moves $2.59M funds after ZachXBT exposure","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptopolitan.com/dritan-kapllani-moves-funds-zachxbt-exposure/"}]},{"content":"Federal charges name Brandon Michael Tardibone, 28, of Miami, as a co-conspirator. Tardibone, described in reporting as a Miami-area luxury car dealer operating under the online handle '@Yelo,' allegedly harbored Johnston at a luxury Miami-area residence to help him evade immigration authorities and assisted Johnston in acquiring a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, two BMWs, and jewelry, as well as arranging private jet rentals using proceeds from the fraud. Tardibone also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors recommended a sentencing range of 27 to 33 months for Tardibone. The uncharged individual identified as CC-1 in federal court filings is alleged by ZachXBT to be Dritan Kapllani Jr., an 18-year-old US national. Kapllani is alleged to be connected to a broader theft network called 'The Com,' a loosely affiliated group of young social engineering and SIM-swapping criminals. ZachXBT reported that a second wallet address attributed to Kapllani (0x97da0685dbba50b4cbabb0ca9e8336f4fbe41122) is linked to an alleged additional $5.85 million stolen across five separate social engineering incidents between August and October 2025. John Daghita, known online as 'Lick,' is mentioned in reporting as a separate member of the broader Com network who allegedly participated in shared communications with Kapllani; Daghita was separately accused in January 2026 of a $46 million theft from US government-controlled wallets. The connection between Daghita and the Johnston case is based on ZachXBT on-chain analysis and should be treated as lower confidence absent formal charges linking Daghita to the Johnston ring.","heading":"Co-Conspirators and the Broader Network","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Press Release — Southern District of Florida","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/canadian-illegal-alien-and-co-conspirator-charged-13-million-cryptocurrency-fraud"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto Times — ZachXBT Exposes Dritan Kapllani Jr. For $19M 'Social Engineering' Crypto Theft","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/05/12/teenager-exposed-for-19m-social-engineering-crypto-theft-federal-charges-filed/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Cryptopolitan — Miami luxury car rental business owner and expired visa holder face $13M DOJ crypto fraud indictment","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptopolitan.com/miami-luxury-business-owner-crypto-fraud/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoAdventure — Two Plead Guilty In $13M Crypto Support Impersonation Case","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptoadventure.com/two-plead-guilty-in-13m-crypto-support-impersonation-case/"}]},{"content":"Johnston was arrested in March 2026 following a traffic stop in North Miami. A Miami-Dade Sheriff's deputy stopped the vehicle, a white Rolls-Royce Cullinan with tinted windows, and upon contact with occupants detected a strong odor of freshly burned marijuana and observed cannabis residue in the vehicle's cup holder. Johnston was found to be in possession of 21 suspected amphetamine tablets inside a Hermes bag. His unlawful immigration status was identified, leading to federal involvement. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami as the lead agency, with support from IRS Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, US Customs and Border Protection, and the Golden Beach Police Department. Federal prosecutors Jackson K. Dering V and Robert F. Moore of the Southern District of Florida handled the case. A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned the indictment against Johnston and Tardibone on or around May 11, 2026.","heading":"Arrest and Law Enforcement Actions","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"CBC News — Canadian who stole $13M US in crypto bought Lamborghini, BMWs, plea deal says","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trenton-johnston-crypto-fraud-9.7229075"},{"credibility":1,"name":"IRS Criminal Investigation — Canadian illegal alien and co-conspirator charged in $13 million cryptocurrency fraud scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/canadian-illegal-alien-and-co-conspirator-charged-in-13-million-cryptocurrency-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"NBC 6 South Florida — Canadian man, 19, and co-conspirator charged in $13M cryptocurrency fraud scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/canadian-man-19-and-co-conspirator-charged-in-13m-cryptocurrency-fraud-scheme-feds-say/3808059/"}]},{"content":"Johnston was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each carrying a potential maximum sentence of 20 years. As part of a plea agreement, Johnston pleaded guilty on June 10, 2026 to conspiracy to commit money laundering only; the wire fraud conspiracy charge was to be dismissed under the plea deal. Prosecutors sought a sentencing range of 51 to 63 months (approximately four to five years) of imprisonment. Johnston agreed to deportation to Canada following completion of his sentence. Sentencing had not been scheduled as of the available reporting through early July 2026. Tardibone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces a recommended sentence of 27 to 33 months. The charges against Tardibone for harboring an alien, which carried up to 10 additional years, were not specified as resolved in available reporting. Dritan Kapllani Jr. had not been formally charged as of early July 2026, despite being identified as CC-1 in court filings; ZachXBT reported that Kapllani moved approximately $2.59 million in funds following his public exposure in May 2026.","heading":"Charges, Plea, and Sentencing","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto.news — Canadian teen pleads guilty in $13M crypto impersonation scam case","type":"news_article","url":"https://crypto.news/canadian-teen-pleads-guilty-in-13m-crypto-impersonation-scam-case/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"CBC News — Canadian who stole $13M US in crypto bought Lamborghini, BMWs, plea deal says","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trenton-johnston-crypto-fraud-9.7229075"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Benzinga — Canadian Teen Pleads Guilty In $13 Million Crypto Fraud Case","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/06/53185703/we-smacked-a-185-bitcoin-target-canadian-teen-pleads-guilty-in-13-million-crypto-fraud-case"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Cryptopolitan — Flight risk or not: Dritan Kapllani Jr. moves $2.59M funds after ZachXBT exposure","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptopolitan.com/dritan-kapllani-moves-funds-zachxbt-exposure/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"GN Crypto News — Canadian Teen Pleads Guilty to $13M Crypto Theft","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.gncrypto.news/news/canadian-teen-pleads-guilty-13m-crypto-theft/"}]},{"content":"Court documents and plea agreements describe Johnston and Tardibone using more than $1 million of the illicit proceeds for luxury goods and entertainment in the Miami and Los Angeles areas. Documented purchases and expenditures include: a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, two BMW vehicles, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan (in which Johnston was riding at the time of his arrest), high-end jewelry, private jet travel, and nightclub and entertainment spending. Tardibone's Miami luxury car rental business was alleged to have been used to facilitate the laundering of stolen funds through vehicle transactions. Chat messages recovered from Signal communications referenced plans to convert stolen Bitcoin to Monero (XMR) to exploit Monero's privacy features and obscure the transaction trail. ZachXBT's on-chain analysis traced a portion of the 185 BTC through multiple Bitcoin and Ethereum addresses before funds were deposited into wallets attributed to CC-1.","heading":"Proceeds and Money Laundering","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Press Release — Southern District of Florida","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/canadian-illegal-alien-and-co-conspirator-charged-13-million-cryptocurrency-fraud"},{"credibility":1,"name":"CBC News — Canadian who stole $13M US in crypto bought Lamborghini, BMWs, plea deal says","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trenton-johnston-crypto-fraud-9.7229075"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Cryptonomist — $13M Canadian Crypto Impersonation Scam Ends at a Traffic Stop","type":"news_article","url":"https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2026/06/11/canadian-crypto-impersonation-scam/"}]},{"content":"Multiple reporting outlets and ZachXBT's published analysis place Johnston and the alleged CC-1 (Dritan Kapllani Jr.) within a broader loosely affiliated network of young social engineering and SIM-swapping criminals known as 'The Com.' This network has been linked to a pattern of large-scale crypto social engineering thefts in 2024 and 2025, including the alleged $243 million theft from a Genesis creditor in August 2024 and an alleged $282 million hardware wallet theft in January 2026. ZachXBT noted in May 2026 that Kapllani had 'lots of plot armor as all of his friend groups have kept getting arrested without him,' suggesting repeat law enforcement contact with the network's periphery. The broader ring's modus operandi — impersonating tech support for exchanges, wallet providers, or large tech companies — is consistent across multiple reported incidents. These broader Com connections are based primarily on ZachXBT's on-chain analysis and investigative reporting and should be treated as medium-confidence pending formal legal proceedings.","heading":"Connection to Broader 'The Com' Social Engineering Ecosystem","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto Times — ZachXBT Exposes Dritan Kapllani Jr. For $19M 'Social Engineering' Crypto Theft","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/05/12/teenager-exposed-for-19m-social-engineering-crypto-theft-federal-charges-filed/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoPotato — ZachXBT Links Teen Crypto Flaunter to $19M Theft Network","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptopotato.com/zachxbt-links-teen-crypto-flaunter-to-19m-theft-network/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"BingX News — ZachXBT ties Dritan Kapllani Jr. to 185 BTC theft and $19M social-engineering ring","type":"news_article","url":"https://bingx.com/en/news/post/zachxbt-ties-dritan-kapllani-jr-to-btc-theft-and-m-social-engineering-ring"}]}],"sources_used":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Press Release — Canadian Illegal Alien and Co-Conspirator Charged in $13 Million Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/canadian-illegal-alien-and-co-conspirator-charged-13-million-cryptocurrency-fraud"},{"credibility":1,"name":"IRS Criminal Investigation — Canadian illegal alien and co-conspirator charged in $13 million cryptocurrency fraud scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/canadian-illegal-alien-and-co-conspirator-charged-in-13-million-cryptocurrency-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"CBC News — Canadian who stole $13M US in crypto bought Lamborghini, BMWs, plea deal says","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trenton-johnston-crypto-fraud-9.7229075"},{"credibility":1,"name":"NBC 6 South Florida — Canadian man, 19, and co-conspirator charged in $13M cryptocurrency fraud scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/canadian-man-19-and-co-conspirator-charged-in-13m-cryptocurrency-fraud-scheme-feds-say/3808059/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Benzinga — 'We Smacked A 185 Bitcoin Target': Canadian Teen Pleads Guilty In $13 Million Crypto Fraud Case","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/06/53185703/we-smacked-a-185-bitcoin-target-canadian-teen-pleads-guilty-in-13-million-crypto-fraud-case"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto Times — ZachXBT Exposes Dritan Kapllani Jr. For $19M 'Social Engineering' Crypto Theft","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/05/12/teenager-exposed-for-19m-social-engineering-crypto-theft-federal-charges-filed/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto.news — Canadian teen pleads guilty in $13M crypto impersonation scam case","type":"news_article","url":"https://crypto.news/canadian-teen-pleads-guilty-in-13m-crypto-impersonation-scam-case/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Cryptopolitan — Flight risk or not: Dritan Kapllani Jr. moves $2.59M funds after ZachXBT exposure","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptopolitan.com/dritan-kapllani-moves-funds-zachxbt-exposure/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Cryptopolitan — Miami luxury car rental business owner and expired visa holder face $13M DOJ crypto fraud indictment","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptopolitan.com/miami-luxury-business-owner-crypto-fraud/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Cryptobriefing — Trenton Richard Johnston arrested for $13M crypto scam involving social engineering attacks","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptobriefing.com/johnston-arrested-13m-crypto-scam/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Cryptonomist — $13M Canadian Crypto Impersonation Scam Ends at a Traffic Stop","type":"news_article","url":"https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2026/06/11/canadian-crypto-impersonation-scam/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoAdventure — Two Plead Guilty In $13M Crypto Support Impersonation Case","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptoadventure.com/two-plead-guilty-in-13m-crypto-support-impersonation-case/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoPotato — ZachXBT Links Teen Crypto Flaunter to $19M Theft Network","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptopotato.com/zachxbt-links-teen-crypto-flaunter-to-19m-theft-network/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"KuCoin News — 19-Year-Old Canadian Indicted in $13M Crypto Scam Linked to Miami Social-Engineering Ring","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.kucoin.com/news/flash/19-year-old-canadian-indicted-in-13m-crypto-scam-linked-to-miami-social-engineering-ring"},{"credibility":2,"name":"GN Crypto News — DOJ Indictment: Support-impersonation Led to $13M Crypto Theft","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.gncrypto.news/news/doj-support-impersonation-13m-crypto-theft-indictment/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"PANews — ZachXBT identifies a US social worker suspected of theft in connection with a $19 million cryptocurrency theft case","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.panewslab.com/en/articles/019e1c20-1b1d-7708-82a3-449c8121cacb"}],"summary":"Trenton Richard David Johnston, a 20-year-old Canadian national, pleaded guilty on June 10, 2026 in U.S. District Court (Southern District of Florida) to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a social engineering scheme that caused losses exceeding $13 million in cryptocurrency. Johnston operated as part of a broader theft ring — connected to 'The Com' hacker network — alongside co-conspirators including Miami resident Brandon Michael Tardibone and an uncharged individual identified by blockchain investigator ZachXBT as Dritan Kapllani Jr., who is alleged to be linked to approximately $19 million in total social engineering thefts. The scheme involved impersonating support representatives from Google, Trezor, and other crypto companies to trick victims into surrendering access to their digital wallets.","timeline":[{"date":"2025-08-01","event":"Alleged social engineering thefts begin accumulating in a second wallet attributed by ZachXBT to CC-1 (alleged Dritan Kapllani Jr.), eventually totaling approximately $5.85 million across five incidents through October 2025.","source":"Crypto Times / ZachXBT analysis","source_url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/05/12/teenager-exposed-for-19m-social-engineering-crypto-theft-federal-charges-filed/"},{"date":"2024-10-01","event":"Trenton Richard David Johnston enters the United States from Canada (Fort Erie, Ontario to Buffalo, New York) on a one-year tourist visa.","source":"CBC News","source_url":"https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trenton-johnston-crypto-fraud-9.7229075"},{"date":"2026-03-13","event":"A California-based victim receives two fraudulent calls from individuals impersonating Google and Trezor representatives, who claim someone is attempting to access the victim's crypto wallet and persuade the victim to surrender account access codes.","source":"CBC News / DOJ court filings","source_url":"https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trenton-johnston-crypto-fraud-9.7229075"},{"date":"2026-03-14","event":"185 Bitcoin (approximately $13 million) is stolen from the California victim. Signal messages recovered by investigators show Johnston writing 'We actually smacked a 185 BTC target today' to a co-conspirator. On-chain analysis traces funds through multiple Bitcoin and Ethereum wallets within hours of the theft.","source":"Benzinga / Crypto Times / ZachXBT","source_url":"https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/06/53185703/we-smacked-a-185-bitcoin-target-canadian-teen-pleads-guilty-in-13-million-crypto-fraud-case"},{"date":"2026-03-01","event":"Johnston is arrested during a traffic stop in North Miami while riding as a passenger in a white Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Deputies detect marijuana odor and find 21 suspected amphetamine tablets in a Hermes bag. His unlawful immigration status is identified, triggering federal investigation.","source":"CBC News / IRS Criminal Investigation","source_url":"https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trenton-johnston-crypto-fraud-9.7229075"},{"date":"2026-04-23","event":"ZachXBT breakthrough: an individual alleged to be Dritan Kapllani Jr. screen-shares his Exodus wallet on a Discord call, displaying approximately $3.68 to $4.17 million. ZachXBT identifies his Ethereum address from the recording and publishes on-chain tracing connecting the wallet to the 185 BTC theft.","source":"Crypto Times / ZachXBT","source_url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/05/12/teenager-exposed-for-19m-social-engineering-crypto-theft-federal-charges-filed/"},{"date":"2026-05-11","event":"A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returns an indictment against Trenton Richard David Johnston and Brandon Michael Tardibone. The DOJ and IRS Criminal Investigation publicly announce the charges. Dritan Kapllani Jr. is identified as Co-Conspirator 1 in the court complaint but is not formally charged.","source":"DOJ / IRS Criminal Investigation","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/canadian-illegal-alien-and-co-conspirator-charged-13-million-cryptocurrency-fraud"},{"date":"2026-05-12","event":"ZachXBT publishes public report tying Dritan Kapllani Jr. to approximately $19 million in social engineering thefts, including the 185 BTC incident. Reports note Kapllani begins moving approximately $2.59 million in funds following his exposure.","source":"Crypto Times / Cryptopolitan","source_url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/05/12/teenager-exposed-for-19m-social-engineering-crypto-theft-federal-charges-filed/"},{"date":"2026-06-10","event":"Trenton Richard David Johnston pleads guilty in U.S. District Court in Miami to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Brandon Michael Tardibone also pleads guilty to the same charge. Johnston agrees to deportation to Canada following sentencing. Prosecutors seek 51–63 months for Johnston and 27–33 months for Tardibone.","source":"CBC News / Benzinga / Crypto.news","source_url":"https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trenton-johnston-crypto-fraud-9.7229075"}]},"v":1}

   Verify offline (run on your own machine)

   python -m src.verify_decision e897d0b6-7168-487b-bc14-6f4fe83e8459copy