31-7-2025 – Nancy Jones, widow of country music legend George Jones, has lost approximately $17 million in a cryptocurrency theft involving XRP, first reported by Finance Feeds. Her former partner, Kirk West, allegedly stole over $400,000 in cash and a Ledger wallet containing more than 5.5 million XRP tokens from two safes in her Franklin, Tennessee, home on June 26, 2025. West, 58, was arrested at Nashville International Airport on July 24, facing felony theft charges.
Court documents reveal West, who presented himself as a crypto expert, persuaded Jones to invest in XRP and other cryptocurrencies, exploiting their romantic relationship that began in 2013. Jones discovered the theft after suspecting West’s infidelity and asking her granddaughter to secure her valuables. While legal efforts recovered about 5 million XRP tokens, roughly 483,205 tokens, valued at $1.5 million, remain unaccounted for.
The case underscores the vulnerabilities of personal crypto storage and the risks of trusting intermediaries with access to private keys. West, previously convicted of bank fraud in 2016, is accused of targeting vulnerable individuals. His actions highlight the growing sophistication of crypto-related scams, where personal relationships can be exploited for financial gain. Jones’ legal team continues to pursue the missing assets, but tracing transferred cryptocurrencies remains challenging. West’s court appearance is scheduled for October 23, 2025.
