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The founders of the controversial Empire Market will soon appear in court.
Two alleged administrators of Empire Market, a darknet marketplace that sold malware, digital fraud data, drugs and other illegal goods, have been detained in the United States. The charges relate to the management and ownership of this illegal market.
According to US prosecutors, 38-year-old Thomas Pavey, known as "Dopenugget" from Ormond Beach, Florida, and 28-year-old Raheim Hamilton, also known as "Sydney" and "Zero Angel" from Suffolk, Virginia, ran Empire Market from 2018 to 2020. During this period, they allegedly facilitated four million illegal transactions worth more than $ 430 million.
The indictment alleges that thousands of sellers were selling illegal substances, stolen credentials, fake credit cards, and counterfeit currency at Empire Market.
Customers could choose products by category, including "Fraud, "" Drugs and Chemicals," "Counterfeits,"and" Software and Malware." Within the categories, there were subcategories, for example, in the section with drugs, you could find such prohibited substances as cocaine, heroin, morphine, oxycodone, meth, opium, and others.
After the purchase, customers could leave reviews and rate sellers by various criteria, including "disguise". Site administrators also engaged moderators to resolve disputes between buyers and sellers.
All transactions on the Empire Market were carried out using cryptocurrency, and access to the site was only possible through specialized anonymizing software known as Tor, since the Empire Market worked as a hidden service with an onion address.
Site administrators encouraged users to use cryptocurrency mixers-services that erase transaction traces so that law enforcement agencies could not track their purchases. Court documents indicate that in October 2018, Empire Market advertised :" Erasing coin traces [Tumbling coins] is a popular way to remove any traces leading to Empire Market. In some cases, a certain investigator can trace you through the blockchain. Erasing traces of coins for a small fee (usually 1-3 percent) will ensure your safety."
During the investigation and subsequent arrests, federal law enforcement agencies seized $ 75 million worth of cryptocurrency, as well as cash and precious metals.
Prior to their alleged work on the Empire Market, Pavey and Hamilton worked together to advertise and sell fake currency on another darknet marketplace, AlphaBay, which was shut down in 2017.
The men are charged with conspiracy to sell drugs, computer fraud, access device fraud, forgery and money laundering. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Both remain in custody and are awaiting a hearing in a U.S. federal court.
Two alleged administrators of Empire Market, a darknet marketplace that sold malware, digital fraud data, drugs and other illegal goods, have been detained in the United States. The charges relate to the management and ownership of this illegal market.
According to US prosecutors, 38-year-old Thomas Pavey, known as "Dopenugget" from Ormond Beach, Florida, and 28-year-old Raheim Hamilton, also known as "Sydney" and "Zero Angel" from Suffolk, Virginia, ran Empire Market from 2018 to 2020. During this period, they allegedly facilitated four million illegal transactions worth more than $ 430 million.
The indictment alleges that thousands of sellers were selling illegal substances, stolen credentials, fake credit cards, and counterfeit currency at Empire Market.
Customers could choose products by category, including "Fraud, "" Drugs and Chemicals," "Counterfeits,"and" Software and Malware." Within the categories, there were subcategories, for example, in the section with drugs, you could find such prohibited substances as cocaine, heroin, morphine, oxycodone, meth, opium, and others.
After the purchase, customers could leave reviews and rate sellers by various criteria, including "disguise". Site administrators also engaged moderators to resolve disputes between buyers and sellers.
All transactions on the Empire Market were carried out using cryptocurrency, and access to the site was only possible through specialized anonymizing software known as Tor, since the Empire Market worked as a hidden service with an onion address.
Site administrators encouraged users to use cryptocurrency mixers-services that erase transaction traces so that law enforcement agencies could not track their purchases. Court documents indicate that in October 2018, Empire Market advertised :" Erasing coin traces [Tumbling coins] is a popular way to remove any traces leading to Empire Market. In some cases, a certain investigator can trace you through the blockchain. Erasing traces of coins for a small fee (usually 1-3 percent) will ensure your safety."
During the investigation and subsequent arrests, federal law enforcement agencies seized $ 75 million worth of cryptocurrency, as well as cash and precious metals.
Prior to their alleged work on the Empire Market, Pavey and Hamilton worked together to advertise and sell fake currency on another darknet marketplace, AlphaBay, which was shut down in 2017.
The men are charged with conspiracy to sell drugs, computer fraud, access device fraud, forgery and money laundering. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Both remain in custody and are awaiting a hearing in a U.S. federal court.
