The U.S. Justice Department has announced charges against two former federal agents accused of stealing the digital currency . Carl Force , a former DEA agent , and Shaun Bridges , a special agent with the Secret Service , were charged in a criminal complaint . They are alleged to have stolen bitcoins from Silk Road's users by using their access to the online marketplace as part of an elaborate scheme that involved selling them on the black market for thousands or even millions Force , 46 , and Bridges , 32 , belonged to a Baltimore-based federal task force investigating the Silk Road . Force had a prominent role in the probe , authorities said , and was the lead undercover agent in communication with the website 's alleged operator .
The U.S. Justice Department has announced charges against two former federal agents accused of stealing the digital currency . Carl Force , a former DEA agent , and Shaun Bridges , a special agent with the Secret Service , were charged in a criminal complaint . Silk Road was an underground website where people bought drugs and other illicit goods using bitcoin digital currency . Force , 46 , and Bridges , 32 , belonged to a Baltimore-based federal task force investigating the Silk Road . Force had a prominent role in the probe , authorities said , and was the lead undercover agent in communication with the website 's alleged operator .