John “Lick” Daghita was apprehended in a coordinated operation between the FBI and French authorities on the island of Saint Martin. He faces allegations of misappropriating over $46 million in cryptocurrency from U.S. government seizure wallets managed by his father’s company.
The arrest occurred on Wednesday, as confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel in a post on social media, where he shared images of Daghita in handcuffs alongside a suitcase filled with cash and various crypto storage devices. Patel emphasized the FBI’s commitment to collaborating with international partners to hold accountable those who defraud American taxpayers.
The investigation, led by the U.S. Marshals Service, began after blockchain investigator ZachXBT raised concerns about Daghita’s activities. Daghita is the son of Dean Daghita, president of CMDSS, a Virginia-based contractor that provides IT and operational support services to U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense. CMDSS has been involved in managing and disposing of seized cryptocurrency.
Allegations surfaced that Daghita had siphoned significant digital assets from government wallets, including a wallet reportedly holding around 12,540 ETH, valued at over $36 million at the time of the investigation. Daghita gained notoriety in online communities after participating in a public dispute regarding cryptocurrency holdings.
With his arrest, U.S. authorities are now expected to initiate extradition proceedings as the investigation unfolds.
John Daghita, son of a U.S. contractor, was arrested in France for allegedly stealing over $46 million in cryptocurrency from government seizure accounts. The FBI and French authorities collaborated on the operation, which follows a detailed investigation into Daghita's activities.