Prominent crypto influencer Ben Armstrong, previously known as ‘BitBoy’, found himself in hot water recently. He was arrested on Sept. 25 while conducting a live stream outside an ex- associate’s residence. The Gwinnett County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Armstrong spent around 8 hours detained.
Upon release, Armstrong faced charges of “loitering/prowling” and “simple assault by placing another in fear.” These charges came with a bond of $2,600 and an additional $40 in fees. In Georgia, the term ‘loitering or prowling’ pertains to suspicious behavior that might raise concerns for nearby persons or property, as explained by Georgia-based law firm Lawson & Berry. The repercussions for such a misdemeanor could range from fines up to $1,000, imprisonment for a year, or both. Additionally, ‘simple assault’ in Georgia implies either attempting to cause violent harm to someone or making someone believe they’re about to experience such harm. Like loitering, simple assault is also typically categorized as a misdemeanor.
Armstrong seemed to downplay the incident post-release, jesting, “My name is Ben, and I’m a loiterer. I did eight whole hours in the slammer.” Shortly after, he mentioned a hiatus from social media for a week, dismissing the idea that it was due to viral memes. Following the incident, Armstrong’s mug shot became a buzz on crypto social platforms.
The root of this dramatic evening was Armstrong’s visit to Carlos Diaz’s home. Armstrong claimed that Diaz had his Lamborghini. This resulted in a roughly 19-minute rant on livestream, ending with local police intervening and arresting Armstrong.
Crypto trader “EmperorBTC” commented on the situation to his vast following, suggesting it should be a cautionary tale.
This recent controversy traces back to an ongoing disagreement between Armstrong and Hit Network, the entity behind the “BitBoy Crypto” brand. The company severed its relationship with Armstrong in August, referring to concerns about substance abuse and alleged financial harm to its staff.
