Trenton Johnston Sentenced to Time Served in U.S. Crypto Fraud Case
The 20-year-old Canadian pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy after prosecutors detailed his luxury spending in Miami.
By Christopher Singh ·
Trenton Johnston received a sentence of time served on Monday in Miami after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. The 20-year-old Canadian had been in U.S. custody since March 2026. He surrendered approximately 3.8 million U.S. dollars worth of stolen bitcoin and ether to federal authorities as part of his plea deal.
Johnston began his scheme in January 2024 when he was 17 years old. He crossed from Fort Erie, Ontario, to Buffalo, New York, in October of that year. He then overstayed a 12-month tourist visa. Prosecutors said he impersonated Google tech support staff and representatives of cryptocurrency firms. He convinced victims to share the codes to their digital wallets.
In one major incident in March 2024, Johnston and an unnamed co-conspirator swindled a California victim out of 185 bitcoin. That amount was worth approximately 13 million U.S. dollars at the time. Court documents show Johnston texting his accomplice that he and the partner had smacked a 185btc target. He added that the club felt good after the transaction and that they were not done yet.
While living in the Miami area, Johnston purchased a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, two BMWs, jewelry, and a private jet rental. He also rented a Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. Investigators found him in the back of that vehicle in March 2026. The car smelled of freshly burned marijuana. He was found with suspected amphetamine tablets in a Hermes bag.
Defense attorney Brooke C. Watson stated that Johnston quickly admitted his conduct and expressed tremendous sorrow for his actions. Watson noted that Johnston turned over all stolen cryptocurrency in his possession. The defense also revealed that Johnston showed others how he carried out the thefts by sharing his screen on the social platform Discord. His hometown and his parents' names remain redacted in court filings.
Federal prosecutors agreed to withdraw a wire fraud conspiracy charge in exchange for the guilty plea. They also noted that Johnston provided substantial assistance in the investigation and prosecution of other individuals. Johnston still faces a separate drug possession charge from Florida state prosecutors. That charge stems from the amphetamine pills found at his March arrest.
Johnston agreed to a removal order issued by a U.S. immigration judge in April 2026. He is expected to be handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation to Canada. It is currently unclear when he will be released from custody.
