Former rugby league star Trent Merrin, 36, has been arrested and charged with allegedly stealing $140,000 worth of cryptocurrency. The former St George Illawarra Dragons and Penrith Panthers forward was taken into custody at his Barrack Point home in the Illawarra on Tuesday.
Police allege Merrin accessed a 29-year-old man's cryptocurrency account without permission and transferred the funds. The arrest followed a year-long investigation by Orana Mid Western Police, which began in November 2024 after the victim reported the unauthorized access.
Officers from the Lake Illawarra Police District and State Crime Command's Cybercrime Squad raided Merrin's home on Tuesday morning, seizing several electronic devices for forensic examination. Merrin was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station and charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Merrin, who won the 2010 NRL premiership with St George Illawarra and also represented New South Wales and Australia, was granted conditional bail. He is scheduled to appear before Port Kembla Local Court on December 3.
