US Court: Canadian Teen Laundered $13M in Stolen Crypto on Luxury Cars and Private Jets

TLDR

• Canadian Trenton Johnston, 20, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering after stealing $13M in crypto
• He and co-conspirators impersonated Google and Trezor employees to trick victims into giving up wallet access
• Around $1.2M was spent in two months on Lamborghinis, BMWs, private jets, and luxury rentals
• He was caught during a traffic stop in a Rolls-Royce, carrying amphetamines
• Johnston has handed back roughly 53 Bitcoin and 275 Ether, worth about $3.7M today

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A 20-year-old Canadian man has pleaded guilty to money laundering after stealing more than $13 million in cryptocurrency through social engineering scams, spending the money on luxury cars, private jets, and a lavish Miami lifestyle.

Trenton Richard David Johnston entered his plea in US District Court in Florida on Tuesday, one month after a federal grand jury indicted him. Prosecutors say the losses to victims exceed $13 million, and other victims are still being identified.

How the Scam Worked

Johnston and his co-conspirators began the scheme around January 2024. In February of that year, he posed as a Google employee and tricked a victim into believing their email and Coinbase accounts were compromised. That netted around $41,000 in Ether.

The bigger theft came weeks later. Johnston and others impersonated Google and Trezor representatives, convincing a California victim that someone was trying to break into their crypto wallet. The victim handed over access, and Johnston drained approximately $13 million in Bitcoin from the account.

Social engineering attacks like these rely on human trust rather than technical hacking. Experts say they are becoming more common in crypto because transactions are fast and largely irreversible.

Johnston had crossed from Canada into the US at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, Ontario in October 2024. He was 18 at the time and later overstayed his visa, living in the Miami area illegally.

The Lifestyle — and the Arrest

Within two months, around $1.2 million of the stolen funds were spent. Johnston worked with Brandon Tardibone, an exotic car rental company owner, to acquire and rent luxury vehicles including a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ and two BMWs.

Money also went toward renting a private jet, a luxury home in North Miami, jewelry, and plane tickets for other people.

Tardibone also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors have recommended a sentence of 27 to 33 months for him.

Johnston’s run ended in March when a Miami-Dade deputy pulled him over for speeding in a Rolls-Royce. The car smelled of marijuana, cannabis was visible inside, and Johnston was found carrying 21 amphetamine tablets in a Hermès bag.

Investigators seized his phone, computer, and handwritten notes, which connected him to the fraud. People in the car reportedly told police he made his money by scamming crypto holders.

As part of his plea deal, Johnston agreed to full cooperation and deportation back to Canada. He has returned approximately 53.16 Bitcoin and 275.23 Ether, worth around $3.7 million at current prices. Prosecutors have recommended a prison sentence of 51 to 63 months.

His sentencing date has not yet been set.

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