Evidence gathered by prosecutors from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has led to the conviction of organised criminals.
Robert Barr, 29, instructed two criminal associates to gain entry to a house in Midlothian and force a husband and wife to give them access to their cryptocurrency wallet.
But the plan failed when the couple refused to let the two men into their property.
And two months later Barr’s involvement was exposed when officers at HMP Edinburgh seized his phone and discovered incriminating messages linking him to the plan.
At the High Court in Glasgow, Barr was sentenced to eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a charge of being concerned in serious organised crime.
His two co-accused, Sean Favier, 26, of Larbert, and Iain Doyle, 37, of Bo’ness, were also sentenced after admitting a charge of being concerned in organised crime.
Favier was imprisoned for four years while Doyle was jailed for five years.
Barr was identified as being the head of an organised group behind the offence.
Messages retrieved from Barr’s phone revealed knowledge of an earlier break-in at the couple’s home and indicated in an online discussion with an associate that he would direct others to go back to the house.
In April 2024, Favier and Doyle, wearing dark clothing and with their hoods up, attempted to gain entry to the property but left when the couple refused to answer their door.
They were later arrested.
Procurator Fiscal Sineidin Corrins, of COPFS, said: “Robert Barr failed in a brazen attempt to carry out a large-scale cybercrime and has now been brought fully to account for his crimes.
“Cryptocurrency crime is worth billions, fuels international money laundering and props up organised criminal gangs.
“We will use all the tools at our disposal to ensure those who are involved in this type of offending face justice.
“COPFS will continue to work closely with justice partners against all those intent on misusing virtual currency for illegal activity.”