The FBI has announced the arrest of John Daghita, the son of a federal contractor. He allegedly stole more than $46 million in cryptocurrency from wallets managed by the United States Marshals Service. Daghita was apprehended on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin by French police collaborating with American agents.
FBI Director Kash Patel made the disclosure on his official X account. The scheme was initially uncovered by blockchain investigator ZachXBT in January. The blockchain sleuth traced on-chain activity following Daghita’s public display of his crypto holdings.
Details of the Alleged Theft
John Daghita, who goes by the online nickname “Lick”, is accused of gaining unauthorized access to government-controlled crypto wallets through links to his father’s company. Command Services & Support (CMDSS), led by Dean Daghita, holds federal contracts to provide IT support and manage certain seized digital assets.
Recall that in late January 2026, ZachXBT publicly explained how Daghita accidentally revealed his control over stolen funds. This was during an argument on Telegram where he exposed wallet balances.
On-chain analysis traced at least $23 million directly to him. It also connected his activity to larger amounts exceeding $90 million in assets seized between 2024 and 2025, including some from the 2016 Bitfinex hack.
Additionally, ZachXBT identified a specific wallet with 12,540 ETH, worth around $36 million at the time, that seemed to be under Daghita’s control. The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed it is actively investigating these claims. This case highlights the risks of insider access and family connections in managing digital assets.
FBI Nabs John Daghita
FBI Director Kash Patel described a coordinated nighttime raid by the top tactical team of the French Gendarmerie and the FBI’s International Cooperation team. Released photos show Daghita in handcuffs at a poolside location, wearing casual clothing. Seized items include stacks of cash, hardware wallets, USB drives, and other electronics for forensic examination.
The joint action with law enforcement from Saint Martin and Guadeloupe shows the effectiveness of global collaboration in fighting crypto crimes. Daghita is expected to be extradited to the United States. He faces possible federal charges of theft of government property, wire fraud, and money laundering.
As of this writing, however, the Department of Justice has not yet issued a formal indictment. The incident has prompted calls for stricter audits, better blockchain monitoring, and stronger safeguards in contracts to reduce insider threats in asset forfeiture programs.
Jonathan Agozie | June 15, 2026
