John Daghita, son of a U.S. government contractor, was arrested on the island of Saint Martin for allegedly stealing $46 million in cryptocurrency from the U.S. Marshals Service. The arrest, conducted in a joint operation between the FBI and French authorities, followed allegations first raised by blockchain investigator ZachXBT in January. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the capture, emphasizing ongoing international cooperation to combat fraud.
John Daghita, also known as "Lick," was apprehended on Wednesday night on the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean, according to FBI Director Kash Patel's announcement on social media the following Thursday. Daghita, the son of Dean Daghita, president of Virginia-based IT firm Command Services and Support (CMDSS), allegedly siphoned more than $46 million in cryptocurrency from wallets managed for the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS). CMDSS had secured a $4 million contract with the USMS in 2024 to provide information technology and operational support, including assistance with seized cryptocurrencies from criminal investigations.
The allegations surfaced in January when pseudonymous blockchain investigator ZachXBT publicly detailed how Daghita controlled several crypto addresses, including one on Ethereum holding roughly 12,540 ETH—valued at more than $36 million at the time—and others on Tron, with ties to government-seized funds. ZachXBT shared videos and screenshots tracing these addresses and alerted authorities. USMS public affairs chief Brady McCarron confirmed in late January that an investigation was underway. Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, stated at the time that he would examine the claims.
The arrest involved the International Cooperation Team Serious Crime Unit of the French Gendarmerie National in Saint Martin and the Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale of Guadeloupe, in cooperation with the FBI. Photos released by the FBI and Saint Martin police depict Daghita in handcuffs near a swimming pool and a metal suitcase containing stacks of $100 bills, computer flash drives, a passport, and what appear to be hardware crypto wallets. It remains unclear how Daghita accessed the digital currency.
"FBI will continue working 24/7 with our international partners to track down, apprehend, and bring to justice those who attempt to defraud American taxpayers—no matter where they try to hide," Patel said. U.S. authorities are expected to pursue extradition as the investigation proceeds. The USMS manages cryptocurrencies seized by the U.S. government as part of operations, including contributions to the US Bitcoin Reserve.
