Australian Federal Police Officer Accused of Stealing Bitcoin During Drug Investigation
An Australian Federal Police officer, William Wheatley, has appeared in court after being accused of stealing 81.616 Bitcoin that was seized during a drug-trafficking investigation in 2019. The committal hearing is taking place in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this week, following charges brought against Wheatley by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement (ACLEI) in December 2022.
Discovery of Crypto Wallet During Raid
The investigation initially focused on the belief that drug trafficker accomplices had stolen the funds. However, new tracing tools later revealed the involvement of a police officer in the disappearance of the seized assets. The wallet containing the digital assets was discovered during a raid on a location connected to an illegal steroid dealer. The raid was led by the Icarus Taskforce, a joint operation between the Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
Investigation and Circumstantial Evidence
After obtaining a magistrate’s approval, detectives gained access to the digital wallet and found that the Bitcoin had been moved just four days after it was seized. Court documents state that Wheatley allegedly stole the 81.616 Bitcoin from the wallet. Cyber Crime Squad Detective Sergeant Deon Achtypis suspected a police officer’s involvement based on IP addresses linked to AFP headquarters in Melbourne. Further investigation revealed transactions made to various crypto platforms, including withdrawals to Wheatley’s personal bank account.
Defense Claims Circumstantial Evidence
Wheatley’s lawyer argued that the evidence against his client is circumstantial and that they will dispute the allegations made against him. The case continues as investigators seek to determine the full extent of Wheatley’s involvement in the theft of the seized cryptocurrency.
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