🔴 Empire Market co-creator sentenced to 40 years for operating $430 million dark web marketplace

Raheim Hamilton, 30, also known online as “Sydney” and “ZeroAngel,” has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison and fined $5 million.

Hamilton and co-creator Thomas Pavey operated Empire Market from 2018 until its shutdown in 2020.

At its peak, the marketplace had approximately 1.68 million registered users, including more than 5,000 vendors and nearly 360,000 buyers.

More than four million transactions worth over $430 million were completed through the marketplace.

Drug sales accounted for nearly $375 million, while vendors also sold stolen credentials, personal information, counterfeit currency and hacking tools.

Hamilton pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal drug conspiracy charge. He also agreed to forfeit approximately 1,230 bitcoin, 24.4 Ether and three properties in Virginia.

Pavey has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.