Crypto influencer Ben Armstrong, formerly known as BitBoy, found himself in hot water recently as he spent an eventful night behind bars and faces two charges following a highly publicized arrest on September 25th.
Armstrong’s arrest unfolded during a live stream outside the residence of his former associate, Carlos Diaz, who Armstrong claimed was in possession of his Lamborghini. The live stream and subsequent tirade lasted approximately 19 minutes before local law enforcement arrived on the scene, resulting in Armstrong’s detainment.
According to the Gwinnett County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office, Armstrong spent slightly over eight hours in custody before being released on bail. However, he now faces charges of “loitering/prowling” and “simple assault by placing another in fear,” with a bond set at $2,600 plus $40 in fees.
In Georgia, loitering or prowling is defined as being in a place and manner unusual for law-abiding individuals, causing justifiable alarm or immediate concern for safety or property in the vicinity. The potential penalties for this misdemeanor include fines up to $1,000, up to one year of jail time, or both.
Simple assault, another charge against Armstrong, involves attempting to commit a violent injury to another person or an act that places someone in reasonable apprehension of immediate harm. While it is typically treated as a misdemeanor in Georgia, certain circumstances can lead to escalated charges.
Following his release, Armstrong seemingly made light of his arrest, quipping on September 27th, “My name is Ben and I’m a loiterer. I did 8 whole hours in the slammer.” He later announced a temporary break from social media, although he denied that it was due to memes circulating about his mug shot, which had become a topic of discussion in crypto social media circles.
This incident is the latest development in a ongoing dispute between Armstrong and Hit Network, the entity that controls the “BitBoy Crypto” brand. In August, the network severed ties with Armstrong, citing concerns related to substance abuse and financial harm to its employees.
Crypto trader EmperorBTC, who boasts 360,000 followers, used the arrest as a cautionary tale, emphasizing that it should serve as a lesson for everyone involved in the crypto community. Armstrong’s legal situation has added a new layer of drama to the ongoing saga between him and his former associates.
