The U.S. Homeland Security Investigations has charged two men for operating Empire Market, a dark web marketplace, facilitating $430 million in illegal transactions. The defendants face severe penalties, including life imprisonment. “During the investigation, federal law enforcement seized cryptocurrency valued at $75 million at the time of the seizures, as well as cash and precious metals,” said U.S. authorities.
US Charges Empire Market Operators in $430M Dark Web Scheme — They Face Maximum Sentence of Life in Prison
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Empire Market Admins Charged for $430 Million in Dark Web Deals
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Monday that its principal investigative arm, the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with law enforcement partners, has brought charges against two men for allegedly operating Empire Market. This dark web marketplace facilitated the anonymous buying and selling of more than $430 million in illegal goods and services globally, the department said.
HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo commented:
As alleged, the defendants attempted to utilize the darknet in furtherance of their drug sale operation to the tune of $60 million-worth of cryptocurrency.
Thomas Pavey (aka Dopenugget), 38, of Ormond Beach, FL, and Raheim Hamilton (aka Sydney and Zero Angel), 28, of Suffolk, VA, owned and operated Empire Market from 2018 to 2020, facilitating approximately four million transactions worth over $430 million, the HSI detailed.
“The indictment charges Pavey and Hamilton with conspiring with each other and others to engage in drug trafficking, computer fraud, access device fraud, counterfeiting, and money laundering,” the authority added, noting that both men are in U.S. law enforcement custody, with arraignments pending in federal court in Chicago.
The HSI detailed that Pavey and Hamilton previously collaborated on Alphabay, selling counterfeit U.S. currency before Alphabay was shut down in 2017. They launched Empire Market on Feb. 1, 2018, the HSI noted, emphasizing that this dark web marketplace, accessible via specialized anonymizing software and a “.onion” address, enabled thousands of vendors and buyers to trade various illicit goods, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, counterfeit currency, and stolen credit card information.
Noting that transactions were conducted using cryptocurrency, and buyers could review and rate their purchases based on criteria such as “stealth,” the announcement details:
During the investigation, federal law enforcement seized cryptocurrency valued at $75 million at the time of the seizures, as well as cash and precious metals … The charges in the superseding indictment are punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
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