How did a 50 BTC police officer stole an encrypted wallet and was arrested star-news.press/wp

How did the police officer eventually end up a thief?

In a major violation of confidence within the law application in the UK, Paul Chowles, a NATCO (BTCC) officer (BTC), stole a controlled portfolio connected to Thomas White, Silk Road 2.0 Road operator.

The theft occurred in 2017 when the cryptocurrency was estimated at a total of about 60,000 British pounds (about 79,000 dollars). By the time when Chowles was arrested, the encryption value increased to more than 4.4 million pounds (about 5.9 million dollars). The 42 -year -old Bristol has used Dark Web and Crypto Mexizing services to divide the stolen Bitcoin into smaller amounts, and transfer them by exchanging encryption and prepaid cards to hide their source.

Initially, investigators suspected of White regained access in one way or another to his money during his detention, but a detailed Blockchain analysis revealed Chewits as the perpetrator. He explains his arrest, conviction, and prison sentence for five and a half years that Blockchain tracker can reveal even the informed, proving that there is no one above the law.

The background: Silk Road 2.0, Thomas White and NCA

In 2013, the American FBI closed the illegal market via the Internet known as the Silk Road Road, which facilitated the drug and illegal commodities trade on the dark web. Shortly later, Silk Road 2.0 was launched by the British National Thomas White, and soon gained popularity.

This Al -Khalaf site was also dismantled in 2014 through a cooperative effort between the UK authorities and the FBI. During the investigation, the authorities confiscated 97 BTC from White. This money was present in the “retirement portfolio” and was appointed to seize as part of his punishment.

Paul Chewels, a 42 -year -old officer from Bristol, as a NCA’s main encryption analyst and was responsible for extracting and managing the encrypted currency of White. Chowles’s experience was vital to tracking, securing and documenting these digital laws of law enforcement.

He gave him the role of Chowles in achieving White access and opportunity to commit one of the most important internal theft in NCA.

Do you know? In 2021, the American authorities seized more than 94000 BTC associated with BitFinex Horism for the year 2016, worth more than $ 3.6 billion at the time. He represented one of the most important financial seizures in the history of the United States.

How did Chiles commit the theft of encryption?

Between 6 and 7 May 2017, Chowles committed a theft that would eventually prevent him from his job and transfer him to prison.

Since the main encryption analyst in Thomas White’s investigation, Chewits used his distinctive access to 50 BTC transfer, at a value of approximately 60,000 pounds, from the “retirement portfolio”. To hide the source of the stolen boxes, he divided bitcoin into smaller amounts and toured them through Bitcoin Fog, which is a cushioning service designed to hide transactions paths.

Initially, the investigators may be suspected that White, a skilled infiltrator, had reached his assets from prison. For years, the theft remained unlawful, and by late 2021, NCA 50 BTC considered unintended. The planned deception seemed carefully to uncover the Blockchain analysis later on his fraud and brought his actions to light.

After stealing the money from the White Waller, Chowles quietly turned to turn the cryptocurrency into cash. With the height of the Bitcoin value between August 2021 and May 2022, he began to exchange parts of money using friendly coded platforms such as Cryptopay and Wirex.

These Chowles services enabled the conversion of BTC to a British pound, which it reached through the discount cards associated. During this period, chowles Executed 279 transactions, spending approximately 23,000 pounds between August 26, 2021, and May 20, 2022. Between August 30, 2021, February 22, 2022, Cochevals was transferred and five withdrawals of 6,232 pounds.

According to the Coronary Prosecution Service (CPS), CHOWLES used, between August 27, 2021 and July 14, 2021, Wirex account and discount card to spend 79,884.77 pounds (worth 107,438.62 dollars on July 25, 2025). CPS was estimated to have 613,147.29 pounds (worth 824,634.05 dollars on July 25, 2025).

Chowles’s use of the prevailing financial platforms, as well as his accurate efforts to hide transactions, reflects his belief that he could avoid detection. However, the size and style of spending provided major evidence that allowed investigators to track stolen money.

Do you know? Governments generally auction seized bitcoin. The Marshal in the United States has sold tens of thousands of BTC since 2014, with some pieces that the adopted early Crypto such as Tim Draper, and converting government assets turning into unexpected opportunities for investors.

Investigation and disclosure of the chowles’ scheme

In early 2022, after his release, White informed the authorities that only the internal files of NCA can reach the special keys to the seized bitcoin portfolio, which prompted an investigation into the Mercyside Police in Chewels.

Investigators seized the Chowles and laptops, detecting credentials, browser date and portfolio details that link it directly with 50 BTC theft in 2017. Using Chainalysis analyzes, the stolen money authorities through Bitcoin Fog, and encryption service, to many exchanges, and determine the money of money.

A combination of digital forensic medicine and Blockchain analysis detecting his scheme. Chowles accurate attempts to evade the disclosure revealed. After nearly three years of legal procedures, Chewits admitted that he was guilty in March 2025 for theft, transferring criminal property and hiding criminal property. His actions shed light on the serious issue of internal misconduct within the application of the law, given his role as a reliable analyst for NCA Crypto.

In July 2025, the Liverpool Court sentenced the 42 -year -old to a five -year -old prison for five and a half years. On July 11, 2025, NCA Chewits rejected the misconduct. The ruling was a penalty and a reminder that even those responsible for law enforcement face its full consequences when they betray the public confidence.

Alex Johnson, CPS, Public Prosecutor, I mentioned Chuls “benefited from his position on working in this investigation through his own Juezah statement, with a plan that he believes will guarantee that doubts will never fall on him.”

“It will be very disappointing for everyone that a person involved in law enforcement could include himself in the crime that is assigned to investigation and prevention,” said chief inspector of the investigator John Black, who was achieved in Chuwailis with the help of NCA.

After recovery and recovery from the assets of Chowles

After convicting Shuels, the authorities restored the stolen cryptocurrency. They seized nearly 470,000 pounds of chowless accounts and assets, equivalent to 30 BTC with current values.

CPS has started continuous confiscation measures to restore any unlawful unlawful gains for the state. NCA also took the assets associated with the Silk Road 2.0 Thomas White operator. Of the 97 BTC was initially seized from White, 47 BTC remained in detention and was sold by NCA in line with the court order, generating about one million pounds.

These recovery processes show the increasing ability of the state to track, seize digital assets and convert them into money, even when they are washed or linked to complex criminal plans, which ensures that the criminals or the corrupt are unable to escape from their actions.

Do you know? Crypting seizures often include teamwork across the border. Agencies such as Europol, Interpol and Federal Investigation Office participate in Blockchain intelligence to recover illegal funds. These joint efforts have coordinated coordinated Darknet markets such as Hydra, where hundreds of millions were frozen in encryption and confiscation.

The main lessons of Chuwaili theft

Paul Chuls case works as a reminder that even those familiar with law enforcement can be seduced by the use of assets whose protection is considered. However, it also highlights how Blockchain and advanced investigation tools can reveal hidden crimes, even after years of their occurrence.

Below are major lessons from Chowles and its broader effects:

• Follow Blockchain: Despite Chowles’s efforts to hide theft using Bitcoin fog, Chainalysis follow stolen boxes after about five years, indicating the effectiveness of Blockchain analyzes.
• Inside risks: Chowles access to private keys and forensic tools reveals how reliable officers become risks, leading to their demands in strict internal guarantees.
• Legal and organizational effects: The issue emphasizes the need to improve protocols to deal with cryptocurrencies, which leads to enhancing seizures and recovery and increasing control within the law.