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US Prosecutors Charge Men Behind Dark Web Market With Massive Illicit Sales
US federal prosecutors have charged two men with operating a covert online marketplace where over $430 million worth of drugs, stolen information, counterfeit currency, and malicious software were exchanged anonymously across the globe. According to court documents unsealed on Thursday, Thomas Pavey and Raheim Hamilton have been accused of conspiring together and with others in crimes such as drug trafficking, computer fraud, and money laundering during their operation of "Empire Market."
Background and Charges
Both Pavey, a 38-year-old from Florida, and Hamilton, a 28-year-old from Virginia, are in federal custody. They were already facing previous charges for allegedly selling counterfeit currency on another dark web market, "AlphaBay." Pavey has pleaded not guilty to the 2022 charges and intends to do the same for the new superseding indictment. His lawyer, Dan Eckhart, declined further comment. Hamilton's legal representation has yet to respond to requests for comment, and court records do not show how Hamilton pleaded to the earlier charges.
Details of the Marketplace Operation
Following the shutdown of "AlphaBay" in 2017, prosecutors allege that Pavey and Hamilton shifted operations to a new platform, "Empire Market." Between 2018 and 2020, the duo is said to have facilitated over 4 million transactions using cryptocurrency. "Empire Market" offered various illicit goods and services, including heroin, stolen credit card data, and counterfeit currency. Buyers were able to rate their transactions by "stealth," ensuring anonymity and reliability within the illegal marketplace.
Seizure and Ongoing Investigation
Investigators have confiscated cash, precious metals, and more than $75 million worth of cryptocurrency from Pavey and Hamilton, according to prosecutors. The case remains under close scrutiny as authorities continue to untangle the complex web of criminal activities linked to the dark web marketplace.
