Prosecutors: Ex-federal agent to plead guilty to extorting founder of online drug marketplace

Federal prosecutors say a former special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has agreed to plead guilty in connection with the theft of digital currency during an investigation into online drug market Silk Road.

Details of the plea agreement between the government and Carl Force of Baltimore, Maryland, were not disclosed in court documents filed this week. A call to Force's attorney, Ivan Bates, was not immediately returned.

Prosecutors say Force stole digital currency and extorted Silk Road operator Ross Ulbricht, who was convicted of creating the multimillion-dollar marketplace for illegal drugs and other contraband.

Force and former Secret Service Agent Shaun Bridges were charged in the case in March. Bridges has also reached a plea agreement.

Force is scheduled to enter his plea on July 1.