Canadian 'tremendously sorry' after spending stolen crypto on Lamborghini, BMWs, jewelry
A 20-year-old Canadian who conned cryptocurrency holders out of millions of dollars — and lived large as a teenager in Florida with "extravagant" partying, access to a private jet and luxury cars — could soon be headed home to Canada after he pleaded guilty to a money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to time served Monday.
Trenton Johnston sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to U.S. money laundering conspiracy
Thomas Daigle · CBC News
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A 20-year-old who conned cryptocurrency holders out of millions of dollars — and lived large as a teenager in Florida with "extravagant" partying and access to a private jet and luxury cars — could soon be headed home to Canada.
A U.S. federal judge in Miami on Monday sentenced Trenton Richard David (Trent) Johnston to time served after he pleaded guilty to a money laundering conspiracy and handed over $3.8 million US worth of stolen crypto.
Johnston, then 19, was seated in the back of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV that smelled of "freshly burned marijuana" when he was arrested in March, according to court documents. He's been in custody ever since.
U.S. Homeland Security Investigations found Johnston, a Canadian citizen, impersonated Google tech support staff and representatives of crypto firms to convince unwitting victims to share the codes to their cryptocurrency wallets.
The scheme made him a fortune.
Johnston was arrested after he was found with suspected amphetamine tablets in a Hermes bag while seated in the back of this Rolls-Royce Cullinan. (EpicVIN)
Prosecutors detailed 'extravagant' lifestyle
In one instance in March, Johnston and an unnamed co-conspirator swindled a victim in California out of his life savings — 185 bitcoin, or the equivalent of about $13 million US at the time, court documents say.
"We actually smacked a 185btc target today," Johnston wrote in a series of text messages to his accomplice, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Miami. "Club feels mad good after today."
"And we ain't done," he added.
Prosecutors said Johston splurged on "an extravagant nightlife and entertainment lifestyle" while living in the Miami area, where he relocated in 2024.
Some of his big-ticket purchases are laid out in court documents: a high-powered Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, two BMWs, jewelry and a private jet rental.
He didn't hide the ruse. According to a witness interviewed by investigators, Johnston showed others how he carried out the thefts by sharing his screen over the social platform Discord.
Johnston's defence lawyer Brooke C. Watson said in a recent court filing that after his arrest, the Canadian "turned over all of the stolen cryptocurrency in his possession," approximately $3.8 million US in bitcoin and ether, another typo of cryptocurrency.
"Mr. Johnston quickly admitted his conduct and is tremendously sorry for what he has done," Watson wrote.
Johnston had overstayed his 12-month U.S. tourist visa after crossing from Fort Erie, Ont., to Buffalo, N.Y., in October 2024 at age 18. But the lawyer revealed in a court filing last week that Johnston's scheme started months earlier — when he was just 17 — in January 2024.
In a court filing before sentencing, a defence lawyer for Johnston included pictures titled 'Trenton Johnston, growing up in Canada.' The name of his hometown is redacted in the court documents. (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida)
Hometown redacted in court documents
Watson did not respond to CBC News when asked where in Canada Johnston is from. His hometown and the names of his parents — a mechanic and a hair stylist — are redacted in court documents filed last week ahead of sentencing.
In a plea deal, federal prosecutors agreed to withdraw a wire fraud conspiracy charge in exchange for Johnston's guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida had previously announced that Johnston faced 20 years in prison if convicted on both counts.
Prosecutors later said Johnston provided "substantial assistance in the investigation and prosecution" of other unnamed individuals.
He still faces a drug possession charge from Florida state prosecutors stemming from amphetamine pills found in a Hermes bag at the time of his March arrest in the back of that Rolls-Royce Cullinan in North Miami.
It's unclear when Johnston will be released from custody.
He already agreed to a removal order issued in April by a U.S. immigration judge.
Eventually, Johnston is expected to be handed over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be deported to Canada.
If you have a news tip related to this story, contact CBC News senior reporter Thomas Daigle by email: thomas.daigle@cbc.ca.
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