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Canadian national Trenton Richard David Johnston has pleaded guilty in a U.S. money-laundering case tied to a crypto impersonation scheme that caused more than $13 million in losses.
Johnston, now 20, was charged in the Southern District of Florida after prosecutors said he and other conspirators posed as support staff from Google and crypto companies to access victims’ accounts and wallets.
Fake Google and Trezor Claims Drained $13M
The fraud began around January 2024 and relied on social engineering rather than a code exploit. Court filings cited in reports said Johnston convinced one victim that their Google email account and Coinbase account had been compromised, leading to the theft of about $41,000 in Ether.
Weeks later, the group targeted a California victim by posing as Google and Trezor representatives. Prosecutors said the attackers persuaded the victim that a wallet was at risk, then drained about $13 million in Bitcoin. Prosecutors said the scheme relied on fake support claims rather than technical access to a protocol or smart contract.
Luxury Spending Topped $1M
Prosecutors said more than $1 million in illicit proceeds was used to lease luxury vehicles, buy jewelry and fund nightlife and entertainment expenses.
Reports on the plea said about $1.2 million was spent over two months on luxury vehicles, jewelry, private jet travel, accommodation and other personal expenses across Miami and Los Angeles. The spending allegedly included a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, two BMWs, a North Miami rental property and travel costs for guests.
Rolls-Royce Stop Linked Johnston to Fraud
Authorities linked Johnston to the operation after a March traffic stop while he was driving a Rolls-Royce. Investigators later seized electronic devices and handwritten notes that prosecutors said connected him to the fraud.
The spending trail became part of the government’s case that stolen crypto proceeds were moved into luxury assets and personal expenses.
Johnston Surrendered 53 BTC and 275 ETH
Johnston has surrendered about 53.16 BTC and 275.23 ETH, worth about $3.7 million at the value cited in the case, as part of the proceedings. Prosecutors are seeking a 51-to-63-month prison sentence and dismissal of separate wire fraud charges under the plea agreement.
Co-defendant Brandon Michael Tardibone, an exotic car rental business owner, also pleaded guilty to money laundering and faces a recommended sentence of 27 to 33 months. The next step is sentencing, where the court will decide whether to accept the recommended prison range under the plea agreement
