Empire Market Co-Founder Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Conspiracy Charges

Empire Market co-creator Raheim Hamilton (aka “Sydney”/“Zero Angel”) pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court in Chicago to a drug conspiracy charge tied to operating the dark web marketplace from 2018–2020. Prosecutors said the Tor-hidden service facilitated over 4 million transactions totaling more than $430 million, primarily illegal drug sales (~$375 million), and also enabled sales of stolen credentials, personal data, counterfeit currency, and hacking tools; Hamilton admitted the platform was designed to evade law enforcement and launder proceeds via cryptocurrency-only payments.

Hamilton and co-defendant Thomas Pavey (aka “Dopenugget”) were previously charged for running the market and allegedly had earlier involvement selling counterfeit currency on AlphaBay before launching Empire Market. Reporting indicates law enforcement conducted undercover purchases (including heroin and methamphetamine), and the investigation resulted in significant cryptocurrency seizures (reported at ~$75 million) and forfeiture commitments including Bitcoin, Ether, and property; Hamilton faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for June 17, 2026.