Robert Barr has been jailed for eight years on Tuesday for a £2 million cryptocurrency theft plot he directed from his jail cell in Edinburgh.
Lord Cubie sentenced Barr, 29, on the Excessive Court docket in Glasgow after he pleaded responsible to worrying in critical organized crime. His accomplices, Sean Favier, 26, and Iain Doyle, 37, additionally pleaded responsible. Favier acquired 4 years and Doyle 5.
The Plan Hinged on AnyDesk
The plot focused a husband and spouse in Midlothian whose house had been burgled in January 2024. That break-in netted the husband’s crypto pockets, however the thieves lacked the PIN to open it. A US court docket in Might jailed a $250 million theft ring member who broke into houses to steal {hardware} wallets.
Barr wrote to an affiliate: “I had his home robbed a number of months in the past by boys in right here.” Barr then deliberate a second go to by Favier and Doyle. Each males had been to get inside and make the husband obtain AnyDesk, a remote-access program, which might let Barr take over the pc from jail and transfer the crypto to accounts he managed.
Scammers additionally used AnyDesk within the $243 million Bitcoin theft from a Genesis creditor in 2024.
Favier and Doyle reached the couple’s home at about 11:30 p.m. on April 17, 2024, with their faces lined. The couple noticed them on digicam and wouldn’t allow them to in, so the lads left.
Officers at HMP Edinburgh seized Barr’s telephone on June 25, 2024. Its messages confirmed months of intelligence gathering and reconnaissance, in line with Lord Cubie. The choose stated these messages additionally contemplated threats or violence.
Barr Was Already Serving Time
Barr had been jailed for 21 months over an earlier cryptocurrency fraud. He organized the brand new plot from his cell whereas serving that time period, which Lord Cubie referred to as an aggravating issue. Barr additionally admitted main the organized crime group behind the try.
The choose stated Barr’s culpability was excessive. He added that the hurt stayed decrease solely as a result of Favier and Doyle didn’t get inside. Doyle’s lawyer stated his consumer was homeless and joined for a proposal of £100.
Lord Cubie stated he would have imposed eight years and ten months after a trial, then diminished it for the responsible plea. The court docket will contemplate a critical crime prevention order towards Barr on November 17.
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