Crypto influencer Ben Armstrong, previously known as BitBoy, found himself in a legal predicament recently, resulting in his overnight detention and the filing of two charges against him. Armstrong’s conspicuous arrest occurred on September 25th while he was live-streaming outside the residence of a former associate.
During his time in custody, which lasted slightly over eight hours, he was held at the Gwinnett County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office. Following his detention, Armstrong has since been released on bail, but he faces charges for “loitering/prowling” and “simple assault by placing another in fear.” His bond amount is set at $2,600, with an additional $40 in fees to address these legal matters.
In Georgia, the term “loitering or prowling” generally refers to a situation in which an individual is present in a place and manner that deviates from what is typical for law-abiding citizens, causing justifiable and reasonable alarm or immediate concern for the safety of people or property nearby, as explained by the Georgia-based law firm Lawson & Berry.
The potential consequences for a misdemeanor related to prowling and loitering can involve a fine of up to $1,000, a jail term of up to one year, or a combination of both, according to the same source.
On the other hand, “simple assault” in Georgia can encompass either an attempt to inflict a violent injury on someone or engaging in an action that puts another person in a state of reasonable apprehension of imminent harm, similar to loitering. A conviction for simple assault in Georgia is typically treated as a misdemeanor, although certain circumstances can lead to more severe consequences, as noted by the law firm.
Following his release, Armstrong seemed to make light of his punishment, stating on September 27th, “My name is Ben and I’m a loiterer. I did 8 whole hours in the slammer”
A few hours later, he shared, “I’m going to step away from social media for a week,” and he clarified, “No, it’s not because of the memes.” Armstrong’s mug shot has been circulating within the cryptocurrency social media sphere.
On the night of September 25, Armstrong visited the residence of his former associate, Carlos Diaz, claiming that Diaz had his Lamborghini. During the livestream and his expressions of frustration, approximately 19 minutes passed before the local law enforcement authorities arrived and took Armstrong into custody.
EmperorBTC, a cryptocurrency trader with a following of 360,000 individuals, used the arrest as a cautionary tale, emphasizing that it “should be a lesson for everyone.”
The most recent controversy is connected to the ongoing conflict between Ben Armstrong and the Hit Network, which has ownership over the “BitBoy Crypto” brand. In August, the company and its leadership disassociated themselves from Armstrong, citing concerns related to substance abuse and financial harm inflicted on employees as the primary reasons.
Photo by Donald Tong
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