In 2024, a hacker stole around $24.9 million worth of cryptocurrency from digital wallets controlled by the U.S. government. Now, the U.S. Marshals Service, which oversees those wallets, is facing awkward questions after reports that the hacker is likely a relative of one of the agency’s subcontractors. On the latest episode of Fortune’s Crypto Playbook vodcast, which you can enjoy on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube, hosts Jeff John Roberts and Leo Schwartz discuss the incident and other hot topics in crypto.
The news of a possible insider connection to the wallet hacks emerged when a well-known security researcher, known on X as ZachXBT, reported that an individual named John Daghita had inadvertently disclosed on Telegram he controlled the stolen funds.
Daghita, whose hacker name is “Lick,” is reportedly the son of Dean Daghita, CEO of Command Services and Support (CMDSS), a Virginia-based firm that won a $4 million contract from the U.S. Marshals Service in 2024.
The contract calls for CMDSS to assist the Marshals Service, which is the primary custodian for the newly created U.S. Bitcoin Reserve, with the sale of certain types of cryptocurrency. In this capacity, CMDSS would likely have access to crypto wallets controlled by the U.S. Marshals.
