Tyler Buchanan admits role in scheme that stole at least $8 million in virtual currency

A Scottish man linked to the Scattered Spider cybercrime crew has pleaded guilty in the US to a phishing and SIM-swap scheme that stole at least $8 million in cryptocurrency.

Tyler Robert Buchanan, 24, pleaded guilty in California to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, and now faces a statutory maximum prison sentence of 22 years.

Originally from Dundee, the Scot was arrested in Palma airport in June 2024, and has been held in US custody since April 2025.

His identity was originally withheld from Spanish police reports, which only mentioned the arrest of a 22-year-old Brit with alleged ties to serious cybercrime, although many suspected Buchanan was the individual in question. 

Buchanan, who also went by aliases such as "Dread Pirate Roberts," "Evefan," and "tylerb," was formally identified after his extradition from Spain to the US in April last year ...