Government employee charged with mining crypto at public’s expense

The information technology operations supervisor at the Suffolk County clerk’s office in New York, Christopher Naples was accused of misusing his position to place crypto mining equipment in different areas at the Riverhead Centre in New York County in which he worked. 

It is said that Naples set up 46 devices for crypto mining, “In locations like an unsend electrical wall panel or underneath floorboards,” said the statement. Crypto mining can be a rich endeavour which requires specific equipment for the task as well as increasing the electrical costs wherever the mining apparatuses are set up. Mining equipment can give huge amounts of heat in addition to the equation. 

Timothy Sini a district attorney in Suffolk County believes, “Mining cryptocurrency requires an enormous number of resources, and miners have to navigate how to cover all of those electricity and cooling costs.” Sini said. He also added that Naples “found a way to do it; unfortunately, it was on the back of taxpayers.” The worker tried to increase up to $6,000 or more in electrical costs burdened on Suffolk County. 

Naples faces a number of legal claims such as grand larceny and received a sentence of as long as 15 years jail time. the courts released Naples without requiring bail while he waits for more legal proceedings. “We will tolerate county employees, who are already on the public payroll, to steal taxpayer money and illegally use government resources for their own personal gain.”