Ben "BitBoy" Armstrong was arrested after livestreaming himself attempting to confront a former business partner, the crypto investor and consultant Carlos Diaz, at the latter's home.
The influencer and crypto investor was released on bail Monday after being charged with "loitering/prowling" and "simple assault by placing another in fear," according to CoinDesk, which cited records from the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department in Georgia.
Armstrong paid a $2,600 bond and was released after eight hours in jail, according to a Tuesday post on X, formerly Twitter.
This is the hardest tweet I ever have had to make. I need to make a confession I never imagined I would admit
— Ben Armstrong (@BenArmstrongsX) September 26, 2023
I’m not even really sure if I have the courage to say it but I’m going to do my best
Here it goes: My name is Ben and I’m a loiterer. I did 8 whole hours in the slammer
Armstrong was ousted from his company, BitBoy Crypto, in August, and has since tried and failed to reclaim the firm from its owner, the HIT Network, through an emergency injunction. Earlier this month, he posted a video owning up to mistakes he made that led to his ouster and said he would cooperate with the HIT Network. He also revealed that he had an affair, which chipped away at his image as a supposed family man.
The conflict boiled over into Monday’s livestream posted to X, where Armstrong can be seen ranting about Diaz stealing his Lamborghini among other allegations.
Armstrong is later captured in the livestream being arrested by police, whom he calmly greeted with a "How’s it going?" before they asked him repeatedly to stop walking toward them and to drop his phone and fanny pack. Armstrong said he wasn't armed but that he had a weapon in the backseat of his car, and when the officers asked who else was with him, he hesitated before replying that the woman he had an affair with, Cassie, was in his car.
Did Bitboy just live-stream himself showing up to a guys house who “stole” his lambo and immediately get arrested? Crypto is so back. pic.twitter.com/oEKUzUL036
— Coffeezilla (@coffeebreak_YT) September 26, 2023
Crypto Twitter pounced on the incident, with some claiming his actions either were a sign of crypto’s rock bottom or the beginning of another bull run.
Bitboy is 40 years old playing ding dong ditch 😂 pic.twitter.com/7b2GEgviI9
— LilMoonLambo (@LilMoonLambo) September 26, 2023
NOW THIS IS THE CONTENT WE LIVE FOR. CRYPTO GRIFTER BITBOY SELF DESTRUCTING. BEAUTIFUL! 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/tq2UlVT8kc
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) September 26, 2023
bitboy rolling up to get arrested (real) pic.twitter.com/IXRUd6lQXB
— CryptoFinally (@CryptoFinally) September 26, 2023
Ben Coin, Armstrong’s namesake crypto token, tumbled more than 20% on Tuesday following news of his arrest, according to CoinMarketCap.
