Cohasset School Employee Charged with Secret Cryptocurrency Mining Operation

A former assistant facilities director at Cohasset Middle and High School in Massachusetts has been charged with two misdemeanors for secretly operating a cryptocurrency mining rig in the school's crawl space. The operation, which consumed over 455 kilowatt hours of electricity per day, was discovered during a routine facilities inspection in December 2021.

The employee, who had unfettered access to the premises, used the school's electrical system to power eleven high-powered computers that ran continuously for approximately eight months. The operation was ultimately uncovered after authorities examined the equipment with federal assistance and traced the installation to the employee.

As a town employee, the individual possessed the necessary access to cut a hole in an electrical panel and install conduit along with temporary ventilation ductwork to support the machines. This allowed them to function without interruption while avoiding the high costs that typically deter such activities in the region.