A former National Crime Agency officer has been ordered to repay more than £1.8 million after stealing Bitcoin seized during an investigation into the Silk Road 2.0 darknet marketplace.
Paul Chowles, 44, received a £1,810,678.93 confiscation order at Liverpool Crown Court, according to the BBC report.
Bitcoin Stolen From Seized Wallet
Chowles worked on the National Crime Agency investigation into Thomas White, who was later convicted of operating Silk Road 2.0.
As part of his role, Chowles was responsible for analyzing digital devices seized from White and extracting data and cryptocurrency.
Between May 6 and May 7, 2017, Chowles transferred 50 of the 97 Bitcoin held in White’s wallet to an address under his control.
He then divided the cryptocurrency into smaller amounts and moved it through multiple accounts and mixing services, including Bitcoin Fog, in an attempt to conceal the transaction trail.
Value Increased From £60,000
The 50 Bitcoin were worth approximately £60,000 when Chowles stole them.
Investigators later recovered 30 Bitcoin. Their value had increased from approximately £36,000 at the time of the theft to more than £1.8 million when the confiscation order was issued.
The Crown Prosecution Service calculated that Chowles had benefited from his criminal conduct by £1,970,759.27.
His available assets were assessed at £1,810,678.93, which became the final value of the confiscation order.
Funds Applied to Outstanding Confiscation Order
Of the recovered amount, £1,066,956.83 will be applied to the outstanding balance of a separate confiscation order imposed on White.
The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said specialist blockchain analysis allowed investigators to trace the stolen cryptocurrency despite Chowles’ efforts to disguise its movement.
Searches also uncovered devices, account information and records connecting him to the stolen funds.
Jailed for Five and a Half Years
Chowles pleaded guilty to theft, transferring criminal property and concealing criminal property.
He was dismissed from the National Crime Agency on July 11, 2025, and sentenced five days later to five years and six months in prison.
The confiscation proceedings were brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
