The Australian federal police officer denies allegations of taking Bitcoin from a hardware wallet at the crime scene and transferring it to crypto exchange Binance.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) of Australia has accused a federal police officer of wiping a Trezor hardware wallet containing 81.62 Bitcoin (BTC ) at a crime scene. The authorities relied on crypto tracing software to allege that he transferred the Bitcoins into his own possession.
According to a recent report , the Australian police found the hardware wallet during a drug raid at a residence but waited about three weeks to obtain court permission to access it. However, upon accessing the wallet, there were no Bitcoins at all, as federal agent William Wheatley allegedly transferred them out shortly after the raid.
The hardware wallet allegedly had 81.62 Bitcoin, valued at $309,000 at the time of the raid in 2019. However, at the time of publication, it is worth approximately $4.2 million USD.
Read more,# Officer Accused of Crypto Caper: Australian Police Drama
## Key Points from the Alleged Bitcoin Swipe
– **Accused Officer**: An Australian federal police officer, William Wheatley, is accused of seizing and transferring 81.62 Bitcoin (BTC) from a hardware wallet during a drug raid.
– **Incident Details**: The incident occurred in 2019 when the wallet, found during a raid, was later accessed by the police. Originally, the wallet held Bitcoins worth approximately $309,000, which now values about $4.2 million USD.
– **Investigation**: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) of Australia utilized crypto tracing software to pinpoint the alleged transfer of the Bitcoins to the officer’s account on Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange.
## Officer’s Defense and Investigation Status
– **Denial of Allegations**: Officer Wheatley has denied any wrongdoing in relation to the missing Bitcoins.
– **Ongoing Investigation**: The case is currently under the scrutiny of NACC, focusing on the trail left by the digital transfer and the initial acquisition of the wallet at the crime scene.
## Conclusion: Not Your Usual Police Chase
Oh, how the times have changed! Gone are the days of old-school heists; now, it’s all about those digital dollars. Allegedly, at least in the case of Officer Wheatley, who might have swapped his badge for a Bitcoin bonanza, the buzz is about blockchain betrayal. Whether this turns out to be a tale of corruption or a comedy of errors, it’s a lieutenant leap from doughnut runs to digital runs. Stay tuned for more episodes of “Cops and Crypto” – it sounds like this saga is just getting its blockchain boots on!
**Hot Take:** With Bitcoin’s ballooning value, it’s no wonder it’s catching the eye of more than just investors. If proven, maybe this could kickstart a new TV series, “CSI: Crypto.” #CryptoDrama #BitcoinHeist #BlockchainBlunders
