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Empire Market co-creator Raheim Hamilton was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison and fined $5 million for operating a dark web marketplace that facilitated more than $430 million in illegal transactions. Hamilton and Thomas Pavey ran the platform from 2018 to 2020, processing more than four million transactions involving drugs, stolen credentials, personally identifying information, counterfeit currency, and hacking tools.
Prosecutors said the operators required cryptocurrency payments and encouraged cryptocurrency mixing and encrypted communications to conceal illegal activity, launder proceeds, and evade law enforcement. Both operators agreed to substantial asset forfeitures, including Hamilton’s cryptocurrency and property. Pavey pleaded guilty separately and was awaiting sentencing later in October 2026. The case highlights the role of dark web marketplaces in distributing stolen identity data, credentials, and tools used to enable cybercrime.
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The U.S. Department of Justice announced Hamilton's 40-year prison sentence and $5 million fine for operating Empire Market.
U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Hamilton in Chicago to 40 years in federal prison for his role in operating Empire Market. The judge also imposed a $5 million fine.
Hamilton pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge related to his operation of Empire Market.
Pavey pleaded guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge and admitted helping create and operate Empire Market.
Raheim Hamilton and Thomas Pavey were charged in federal court in Chicago over their operation of Empire Market. The marketplace facilitated more than four million illegal transactions worth over $430 million.
Raheim Hamilton and Thomas Pavey operated Empire Market, facilitating more than four million illegal transactions totaling over $430 million. The dark web marketplace sold drugs, stolen credentials, personally identifying information, counterfeit currency, and hacking tools.
Pavey agreed to forfeit approximately 1,584 bitcoin, two boxes containing 25-ounce gold bars, three vehicles, and two Florida properties.
Hamilton agreed to forfeit approximately 1,230 bitcoin, 24.4 Ether, and three Virginia properties. These forfeitures were separate from his $5 million fine.
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**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**.
Jun 29, 2026
US and international law enforcement continued disrupting illicit online marketplaces and forums used to trade **ransomware services, malware, stolen data, and drugs**. The FBI seized the dark web and clear web domains for **RAMP**, a long-running, predominantly Russian-language cybercrime forum that marketed itself as the “only place ransomware allowed,” and which hosted vetted users, tutorials, and a marketplace for malware and criminal services; the seizure was coordinated with the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and DOJ’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. Separately, US prosecutors announced guilty pleas tied to major darknet markets that also sold **cybercrime tools and stolen information** alongside narcotics. A Virginia man, **Raheim Hamilton** (aka `Sydney`/`ZeroAngel`), co-creator of **Empire Market**, pleaded guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges related to facilitating roughly **$430M** in transactions (2018–2020) and designing the market to evade law enforcement using cryptocurrency. A Slovakian national, **Alan Bill** (aka `Vend0r`/`KingdomOfficial`), pleaded guilty for helping operate **Kingdom Market** (2021–2023), which authorities previously seized in December 2023; investigators linked him to the operation after his arrest with devices and a crypto hardware wallet allegedly containing evidence tying him to the marketplace.
Jun 29, 2026
US authorities reported multiple enforcement actions tied to **crypto-enabled crime**. In the Empire Market case, prosecutors said co-creators **Raheim Hamilton** and **Thomas Pavey** designed the dark web marketplace to help users evade law enforcement and launder proceeds; the market allegedly facilitated about **$430M** in transactions (drugs, stolen payment data, counterfeit currency) before disappearing in 2020 in what investigators described as an exit scam that stole an estimated **$30M** in bitcoin. Hamilton pleaded guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges and agreed to forfeit roughly **1,230 BTC** plus **24.4 ETH** and real estate; Pavey previously pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit about **1,584 BTC** and other assets. Separately, reporting highlighted alleged misuse and laundering of digital assets in other contexts. On-chain investigator **ZachXBT** traced movements from wallets associated with **US-seized crypto** (held under U.S. Marshals Service custodianship) to wallets allegedly linked to **John Daghita**, the son of a federal contractor executive, with claims of roughly **$23M** in diverted cryptocurrency and another wallet holding about **$36M** in Ethereum; ZachXBT said he alerted the **U.S. Marshals Service**. In another DOJ case, **Jingliang Su** (a Chinese national) was sentenced to **46 months** for laundering proceeds from a cryptocurrency investment fraud that authorities said victimized **174** people for **$36.9M**, using social engineering via social media/dating platforms and counterfeit trading sites, with **$26.9M** restitution ordered and multiple US agencies involved in tracing funds and dismantling the network.
Jun 29, 2026