Owner of Empire cybercrime market gets 40 years in prison
Empire Market co-creator Raheim Hamilton sentenced to 40 years in prison for facilitating $430 million in dark web transactions.
Raheim Hamilton, 30, co-creator and operator of dark web marketplace Empire Market from 2017 to 2020, was sentenced to 40 years for facilitating over 4 million transactions totaling roughly $430 million, including nearly $375 million in drug sales. At its peak the market had about 1.68 million registered users and over 5,000 vendors, selling fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, stolen credentials, and hacking tools. Hamilton agreed to forfeit three Virginia properties and about 1,230 bitcoin, after authorities seized $75 million in cryptocurrency during the investigation. Co-defendant Thomas Pavey also pleaded guilty and is due to be sentenced later this month.