Ex-Football Star Slams Police Over ’Sham’ Crypto Theft Arrest—Claims He Was Framed

Former athlete turns crypto critic after explosive theft allegations.

Subheader: From the pitch to the blockchain—how a sports star got tangled in a digital heist.

Police call it an open-and-shut case; the ex-player calls it a 'regulatory witch hunt.' Meanwhile, crypto traders shrug—just another Tuesday in decentralized finance.

Closer: If the SEC can’t define crypto theft, maybe they should stick to auditing traditional banks… oh wait.

Former football star arrested for crypto theft

According to reports, Ellis informed the police about the allegations almost a year ago after Merrin convinced him to invest in digital assets in 2021. He claimed Merrin had the password to the Bitcoin wallet where the funds were kept, a development that allowed him to access the funds at will. Officers claim they have also seized several electronic devices from Merrin’s property during the raid, and each of them will be analyzed by their forensic experts.

Merrin was arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, where the charges were brought against him. In his statement, Merrin’s lawyer mentioned that he intends to defend these allegations vigorously, noting that as a successful businessman with an impeccable record, it is important to fight the charges. “Not only did he make a full, documented payment to this alleged victim, but that payment was seven times the initial investment,” he said.

McGirr also mentioned that details to prove his client’s claims will be ‘revealed in the court case’. “An agreement was made [between Merrin and Ellis], but unfortunately, none of it was in writing,” McGirr claimed. “As I stress for all business deals, it is always important to have contracts in writing – unfortunately, that wasn’t the case in this instance.” However, the report states that police have allegedly traced some of the money to an account for Merrin’s Freeze Yourself ice bath business.

The former back-rower has been an active member of the crypto community since he retired in 2021, even describing himself sometimes as a ‘cryptocurrency enthusiast’ on his LinkedIn bio. He was granted conditional bail ahead of an appearance at the Port Kembla Local Court on December 3. Merrin first made headlines in 2017 after announcing his split from his girlfriend of three years. The pair started dating in 2014 and were engaged by the following year.

Ellis played nine matches for Penrith from 2018 to 2019, before moving on to play 18 for St George Illawarra over the next two years. He moved to Wigan Warriors in the Super League in 2022, representing the team 124 times. The versatile player won the grand final with the Warriors in 2023 and 2024, in addition to his victories in the 2022 and 2024 Challenge Cups. He also made 250 appearances for New South Wales and the Australian national team, earning honors for representing both.

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