Alleged $46M Crypto Theft Suspect John “Lick” Daghita Arrested in Joint FBI–French Operation

French authorities have arrested John “Lick” Daghita, a suspect accused of stealing tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency tied to U.S. government seizure wallets. The arrest took place Wednesday on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin following a coordinated operation between the FBI and the French Gendarmerie.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest in a post on X, sharing photos that appeared to show Daghita in handcuffs alongside a metal suitcase filled with bundles of $100 bills. The images also included several USB drives and what looked like hardware cryptocurrency wallets, suggesting investigators seized digital assets during the operation.

Patel emphasized that U.S. law enforcement will continue pursuing individuals involved in cryptocurrency fraud and financial crimes across international borders. He stated that the FBI works around the clock with global partners to locate and apprehend suspects who attempt to defraud American taxpayers or misuse government funds.

The arrest follows a months-long investigation led by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) into allegations that Daghita stole more than $46 million in digital assets from wallets used to store cryptocurrency seized during criminal investigations. In late January, Brady McCarron, chief of public affairs for the USMS, confirmed that authorities were examining claims that the suspect had diverted large amounts of cryptocurrency.

The case gained public attention after blockchain investigator ZachXBT published findings suggesting that Daghita controlled a wallet containing roughly 12,540 ETH. At the time, the Ethereum holdings were valued at over $36 million. ZachXBT reported the discovery to law enforcement after tracing transactions linked to wallets associated with U.S. government seizures.

Daghita is the son of Dean Daghita, president of Virginia-based contractor CMDSS. The company provides IT and operational support services to U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense, and has reportedly assisted the U.S. Marshals Service with managing seized cryptocurrency assets.

Before the investigation, Daghita had already drawn attention in online crypto communities after appearing in a recorded Telegram dispute involving a “band for band” exchange, where participants attempt to demonstrate control over large crypto holdings.

With Daghita now in custody in Saint Martin, U.S. authorities are expected to seek extradition as investigators continue examining the alleged cryptocurrency theft and tracing the missing digital funds.