Crime & Safety
FL Man Steals $600K In Cryptocurrency From Homeowner: Police
Police said Aaron Motta was supposed to be installing security equipment for a homeowner when he stole $600K in cryptocurrency.
PINELLAS PARK, FL — A Florida man is facing felony charges after police said he stole nearly $600,000 in cryptocurrency from a homeowner while installing a security system.
Aaron Daniel Motta, 27, of Pinellas Park has been charged with grand theft and offenses against computer users.
According to an arrest affidavit, Motta had access to the homeowner's office and computer area.
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While at the victim's home on March 27, authorities said he stole the homeowner's Trezor hardware wallet, which allows users to safely store passwords, tokens and other cryptocurrencies private keys.
Police said Motta was able to locate the password to the wallet and transferred $575,910.61 in cryptocurrency. He made a series of transactions in an attempt to conceal where the money was sent.
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Authorities said an analysis of the blockchain transactions showed the victim's transferred funds were moved into digital wallets controlled by Motta.
Motta was arrested Friday and booked into the Pinellas County Jail. He has since been released on bail.
His victim is over age 65, according to the arrest affidavit.
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