Trenton Richard Johnston
Summary
Trenton Richard David Johnston is a Canadian national who pleaded guilty on June 10, 2026 in U.S. District Court in Miami to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a social-engineering cryptocurrency theft scheme that caused at least $13.04 million in victim losses. Johnston, who was 19 at the time of his March 2026 arrest and had overstayed a U.S. tourist visa, is identified as Co-Conspirator 2 in federal filings that name Dritan Kapllani Jr. as Co-Conspirator 1 in the same 185 BTC theft. He awaits sentencing and has agreed to deportation to Canada.
Connected Entities
1 entities · 10 linked investigationsTimeline(7 events)
2024-10
Trenton Richard David Johnston, age 18, enters the United States from Fort Erie, Ontario through the Buffalo, New York port of entry on a 12-month B-2 tourist visa.
CBC News2026-03-14
185 BTC (approximately $13.04 million) stolen from a California victim via a social engineering attack impersonating Google and Trezor support staff. Court records show Johnston messaged Co-Conspirator 1 (Dritan Kapllani Jr.) during and immediately after the theft.
The Crypto Times / DOJ2026-03
Johnston arrested in North Miami following a traffic stop involving a white Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Deputies discover suspected amphetamines, cannabis residue, and Johnston's status as a visa overstay. Computer, cellphone, and handwritten notes with cryptocurrency codes are seized.
CBC News / IRS Criminal Investigation2026-04
Johnston agrees to a removal order issued by a U.S. immigration judge and commits to cooperate with ICE in his own deportation to Canada.
CBC News2026-05-11
Federal criminal complaint unsealed in the Southern District of Florida charging Trenton Richard David Johnston and Brandon Michael Tardibone. Dritan Kapllani Jr. is identified as Co-Conspirator 1; Johnston is named Co-Conspirator 2 in related filings.
DOJ USAO-SDFL / IRS Criminal Investigation2026-05-12
ZachXBT publishes on-chain research linking Dritan Kapllani Jr. to approximately $19 million in alleged social engineering crypto thefts, including the 185 BTC theft, and identifying Johnston's federal charges.
The Crypto Times2026-06-10
Johnston pleads guilty in U.S. District Court, Miami, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Federal prosecutors recommend a sentence of 51 to 63 months. Sentencing date not yet set.
CBC News / DOJDecision Log
- hash: FEeC2kHBqPaS5kRJGssUgKzqNNnrT9zmTp4Z8TA1NG6D
This investigation is cryptographically anchored to the Solana blockchain and source URLs are archived via the Internet Archive.
model: claude-sonnet-4-6
generated: 6/28/2026, 5:15:10 PM
last updated: 6/28/2026, 5:15:21 PM
avoid.net — verified advice for a post-truth world