Ex-secret service agent who stole $800,000 in bitcoin newly arrested

• Shaun Bridges was scheduled to begin his prison sentence a day later
• Officers found bulletproof vests officials say were stolen

Shaun Bridges, a former secret service agent who was part of the investigation into the now-defunct dark website Silk Road - but who was subsequently prosecuted for stealing $800,000 in the online crypto-currency bitcoin from the site - has been arrested at his home in Laurel, Maryland, the day before he was scheduled to hand himself in to begin his prison sentence.

An arrest warrant was issued under seal on Wednesday and executed on Thursday. During the arrest, according to court documents, officers found bags containing Bridges's passport and a notarised copy of his passport, as well as corporate records for three offshore entities in Nevis, Belize and Mauritius.