The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken action to "return more than $154 million in funds that were allegedly stolen from a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation," in collaboration with Citibank, Sony, and Japanese law enforcement. "As a result of this coordinated effort, investigators obtained the 'private key' needed to access the bitcoin address," the US Department of Justice said.

Citibank and Sony Assisted the FBI in Seizing $180 Million in Bitcoin

The United States has "filed a civil forfeiture case" to "return more than $154 million in cash that were allegedly stolen from a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation," according to the DOJ.

The case was investigated by the FBI and numerous Japanese law enforcement organisations, with "substantial help from Sony and Citibank,” the announcement details, adding:

Investigators were able to obtain the 'private key'... needed to access the bitcoin address as a result of this coordinated effort.

In May, Rei Ishii, a Tokyo-based employee of Sony Life Insurance Company Ltd., allegedly "embezzled" $154 million and transferred the monies to a bank account in La Jolla, California. He then immediately changed the monies "into over 3,879 bitcoins worth over $180 million today."

This bitcoin stack is worth over $188 million at the current bitcoin price.

"Those funds were seized by law enforcement on Dec. 1, 2021, based on the FBI's investigation," the justice department explained, elaborating:

Law enforcement was able to track bitcoin transfers and determine that roughly 3,879.16 bitcoins had been sent to a specific bitcoin address and subsequently to an offline cryptocurrency cold wallet, reflecting the proceeds of funds stolen from a Sony Life subsidiary.

All the bitcoins traceable to the theft have been recovered and stored in their entirety. "Ishii has been charged criminally in Japan," according to the DOJ. "Using the FBI's technical knowledge, the money was traced to the subject's crypto wallet and the funds were seized."

"It is our objective to return the stolen money to the victim of this audacious robbery," said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman.