How did the police end up becoming a thief?
National Crime Agency (NCA) official Paul Chowles stole 50 bitcoins during a serious breach of trust within UK law enforcement (BTC) Connect from the grabbing wallet to Thomas White Silk Road 2.0.
Theft occurred in 2017 Cryptocurrency Total is about £60,000 (approximately $79,000). By the time Joles was arrested, the value of the cryptocurrency had soared to 4.4 million pounds (about $5.9 million). The 42-year-old officer from Bristol used the dark web and Encrypted hybrid services To split the stolen bitcoins into smaller quantities, transfer them Encrypted exchange and prepaid cards to hide their source.
Initially, investigators suspected White had somehow regained his funds during his detention, but detailed blockchain analysis showed that chowles was the culprit. his Arrest, conviction and five and a half years in prison Proving the traceability of blockchains can even be exposed to insiders, proving that no one is beyond the law.
Background: Silk Road 2.0, Thomas White and NCA
In 2013, the FBI closed an illegal online market called the Silk Road, which promoted trade in illegal drugs and goods on the dark web. Shortly thereafter, Silk Road 2.0 was launched by the British country Thomas White and quickly became more popular.
The successor website was also demolished in 2014 through a collaborative effort between the UK authorities and the FBI. During the investigation, authorities seized 97 BTC from White. These funds are located in the “retirement wallet” and are designated as part of the epilepsy.
Paul Chowles, a 42-year-old official from Bristol, served as the NCA’s leading crypto analyst and was responsible for withdrawing and managing White’s cryptocurrency. Chowles’ expertise is crucial to tracking, ensuring and documenting the enforcement of these digital assets.
Chowles’ role in White’s investigation gave him the opportunity to commit one of the NCA’s most important internal theft cases.
did you know? In 2021, U.S. authorities seized more than 94,000 BTC related to the 2016 Bitfinex Hack, which was worth more than $3.6 billion at the time. It marks one of the most important financial epilepsy in American history.
How did Chowles commit crypto theft?
Between May 6 and 7, 2017, Chowles committed a theft, eventually fired him from work and took him to jail.
As the lead crypto analyst in the investigation by Thomas White, Chowles used his privileges to enter the opportunity to secretly transfer 50 BTC worth about 60,000 pounds from the White-occupied “retirement wallet”. To hide the source of stolen funds, he divided Bitcoin into smaller quantities and transferred them through Bitcoin fog into crypto-type hybrid services designed to blur transaction trajectories.
Initially, investigators suspected of skilled hacker White may have been confiscated from prison. Theft has not been resolved for years and by the end of 2021, the NCA believes 50 BTC is untrackable. Chowles’ carefully planned deception seems to have been successful until blockchain analysis is analysed later Revealing his fraud And revealed his actions.
After stealing funds from White’s caught wallet, Chowles quietly worked hard to convert cryptocurrency into cash. As the value of Bitcoin soared between August 2021 and May 2022, he began exchanging some funds with cryptocurrencies and crypto-friendly platforms such as Wirex.
These services allow Chowles to convert BTC to pound, which he accessed through a linked debit card. During this time, Chowles implement 279 transactions, spending about 23,000 pounds between August 26, 2021 and May 20, 2022. Between August 30, 2021 and February 22, 2022, Chowles converted and made 5 withdrawals, totaling 6,232 pounds.
According to Crownepution Service (CPS), Chowles spent 79,884.77 pounds on using a Wirex account and debit card between August 27, 2021 and July 14, 2021 (valued at $107,438.62) (valued at $107,438.62) on July 25, 2025. CPS estimated his earnings to be 613,147.29 pounds (valued at $824,634.05 on July 25, 2025).
Chowles’ use of mainstream financial platforms, coupled with his careful efforts to cover up transactions, reflects his belief that he can avoid discovery. However, the amount and pattern of his spending provides critical evidence that enables investigators to track stolen funds.
did you know? The government usually auctions Bitcoin. Since 2014, the U.S. Marshal Service has sold tens of thousands of BTC, and some early crypto adopters (Tim Draper) have snapped up lots to turn the recovery of government assets into an unexpected opportunity for investors.
Plans to investigate and disband chickens
After White was released in early 2022, he informed authorities that only NCA insiders could access Private key On the Bitcoin wallet he occupied, prompting Merseyside police to investigate chowles.
Investigators caught Chowles’ phone and notebook and found certificates, browser history and wallet details, linking him to 50 BTC thefts in 2017. Using chain analysis analysis, authorities traced the sneaky currency through the stealth of funds in the Bitcoin fog, a form of financing, communicating with various, identified Chailly trail, identified Chowles’ efforts to cover up the effort.
The combination of digital forensics and blockchain analytics reveals his plans. Chowles’ unanimous attempt to evade detection has been revealed. After nearly three years of legal action, Chowles stole, transferred criminal property and concealed criminal property in March 2025. His actions highlighted the serious problems of misconduct within law enforcement, given his role as a trusted NCA crypto analyst.
In July 2025, Liverpool Crown Court sentenced 42 years old to five and a half years in prison. On July 11, 2025, the NCA dismissed Chowles for serious misconduct. Sentencing is both a punishment and a reminder that even those responsible for enforcing the law face all the consequences when they betray public trust.
Alex Johnson, professional prosecutor at CPS statement Chowles “used his position in the investigation and while he was developing his own plans, he thought he thought his doubts would never fall on him.”
“It would be very disappointing for everyone involved in law enforcement to be involved in the criminal behavior they are responsible for investigating and preventing,” said John Black, the chief detective inspector who investigated Chowles with the help of the NCA.
Consequences and assets recovered from chowles
After Joles’ conviction, authorities worked hard to restore the stolen cryptocurrency. They took nearly 470,000 pounds from Chowles’ accounts and assets, equivalent to 30 BTC currently worth.
CPS initiated an ongoing seizure process to recover any remaining illegal odds in the state. NCA also addressed assets related to Silk Road 2.0 operator Thomas White. Of the 97 BTCs initially seized from White, 47 are still in custody, sold by the NCA under court order, resulting in about £1 million.
These recovery shows that even situations that have been laundered or related to complex crime plans show the state’s ability to continuously improve, grasp and convert digital assets into funds to ensure that neither criminals nor corrupt insiders can escape the outcome of their actions.
did you know? Encrypted epilepsy seizures often involve cross-border teams. Europol, Interpol and the FBI share blockchain intelligence to recover illegal funds. These shared efforts led to a coordinated evacuation of blacknet markets like Hydra, where hundreds of millions of cryptocurrencies were frozen and confiscated.
Chowles Crypto Key Courses for Theft
Paul Chowles’ case reminds people that even law enforcement chiefs can induce abuse of assets they entrusted to protect. However, this also underscores how blockchain’s transparency and advanced investigative tools can detect hidden crimes even after a few years.
Here are the key lessons for the Chowles case and its broader meaning:
- Traceability of blockchain: Despite Chowles’ efforts to cover up theft with Bitcoin fog, Chainalisy tracks stolen funds in nearly five years, demonstrating the effectiveness of blockchain analytics.
- Insider risks: Chowles can use private keys and forensic tools, revealing how trusted officials become risks, leading to the need for stricter internal safeguards.
- Legal and regulatory impact: The case highlights the need for improved protocols for handling cryptocurrency assets, thereby enhancing the seizure and recovery process and increasing oversight by law enforcement.
