British Police Officer Accused of 2017 Bitcoin Theft

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• The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized charges against National Crime Agency officer Paul Chowles over the 2017 theft of 50 bitcoins
• Chowles is accused of stealing the coins, valued at nearly £60,000 at the time, during an investigation into online organized crime
• Chwoles faces multiple charges, including theft and money laundering offenses

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorized Merseyside Police to charge National Crime Agency (NCA) officer Paul Chowles with 15 offenses related to the alleged theft of 50 bitcoins during a 2017 investigation into online organized crime. The 42-year-old officer from Bristol is accused of theft and various money laundering offenses and is scheduled to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on April 25.

Bitcoins Multiple Charges Over Theft and Sale

Chowles is set to be charged with 11 counts of concealing, disguising, or converting criminal property, three counts of acquiring, using, or possessing criminal property, and one count of theft. These charges stem from the alleged misappropriation of 50 bitcoins, worth nearly £60,000 ($77,000) at the time, during an NCA investigation into online organized crime in 2017. 

The case carries echoes of the Silk Road scandal involving corrupt US federal agents Carl Force and Shaun Bridges, who misused their investigative authority to steal seized bitcoins. In 2024, an Australian police officer was charged with stealing 81 bitcoins seized during a raid in 2019. In all cases, officers responsible for probing serious online crimes allegedly exploited privileged positions to secretly divert digital currency for personal gain. Each incident involved the theft of cryptocurrency confiscated during criminal investigations, followed by attempts to launder or conceal the illicitly obtained funds.

Bitcoins April Court Date for Chowles

Chowles’s case is the first such incident in the UK where a serving officer is accused of cryptocurrency theft, and the eight-year delay in bringing charges illustrates the complexity of investigations involving digital currencies. It’s likely that Chowles thought he could get away with the theft in 2017, not expecting that crypto-tracing technology would come far enough to bring him to justice.

Chowles is scheduled to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on April 25, where he will be presented with the charges.