Canadian man sentenced to prison for stealing millions in cryptocurrency through fake Google support scheme

A 20-year-old Canadian man has been sentenced to 25 months in prison in the United States for stealing millions of dollars in cryptocurrency by impersonating Google technical support staff and representatives of cryptocurrency exchanges.

Trenton Richard David Johnston was sentenced Monday by a federal judge in Miami after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He also surrendered digital assets worth approximately $3.8 million that had been stolen, according to court documents and media reports.

Lavish lifestyle in Miami

According to court records, Johnston maintained what authorities described as an extravagant nightlife and entertainment lifestyle after moving to Miami in 2024. He reportedly had access to luxury vehicles and a private jet.

He was arrested in March while sitting in the back of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV that reportedly smelled of freshly burned marijuana.

Investigators said Johnston tricked victims into revealing access codes for their cryptocurrency wallets by posing as a Google support representative or an employee of a digital asset exchange.

In one reported case, a victim lost their entire life savings of 185 bitcoins, worth approximately $13 million at the time.

Johnston’s defense argued that, following his arrest, he surrendered all the stolen cryptocurrency still in his possession, valued at approximately $3.8 million.

The case highlights the risks posed by impersonation scams targeting cryptocurrency holders, in which criminals exploit trust in familiar technology companies and trading platforms to gain access to digital assets.