Arrest for Crypto Mining at School
2023.02.24 01:43
Arrest for Crypto Mining at School
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – After missing a scheduled court appearance to answer to charges, a former facilities worker who is accused of setting up a covert cryptocurrency mining operation inside the crawl space of a Massachusetts school is set to be arrested.
According to reports in the media, Nadeam Nahas was to be arraigned on Feb. 23 on charges of stealing electricity and vandalizing a school.
BRAND NEW: A “Cryptocurrency mining operation” is alleged to be run out of Cohasset High School by an ex-town employee. pic.twitter.com/cdBlMIxnnH
When a person fails to appear in court or comply with an order, a court issues a default warrant, which allows law enforcement to arrest the person.
Between April 28 and December 14, 2021, Nahas, who is said to have previously worked in the facilities department of the town of Cohasset, Massachusetts, in the United States, is accused of stealing nearly $18,000 worth of electricity to power his crypto mining operation.
According to court documents, Nahas of Norwell, who worked in the facilities department for the town of Cohasset, allegedly stole $17,492.57 worth of electricity from the computers that were working around the clock near the boiler room in the basement. It was found on 12-14-21.
After the facilities director of Cohasset noticed computers, wiring, and ductwork that appeared out of place given that they were in a crawl space near the boiler room of the school, local police were reportedly first informed about the operation in December 2021.
After a three-month investigation, 11 computers were discovered there, and Nahas was identified as a suspect.
In March of 2022, Nahas resigned from his position with the town of Cohasset.
It is without a doubt not the first time that someone has been accused of stealing electricity to mine cryptocurrency.
Bitcoin (BTC) mining rigs worth $1.2 million that had been confiscated from residents who were stealing electricity to mine were destroyed by Malaysian officials in July 2021.
In August 2020, a year earlier, two men were detained by Bulgarian authorities for illegally stealing more than $1.5 million in electricity to run two crypto mining farms.
