started · updated
Empire Market co-founder sentenced to 40 years in prison
Raheim Hamilton, a co-founder of the dark web marketplace Empire Market, has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison. The 30-year-old from Suffolk, Virginia, was also ordered to pay a $5 million fine.
Operating between 2018 and 2020, Empire Market facilitated over four million transactions totaling more than $430 million. The platform was used to trade controlled substances—including significant quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin—as well as stolen credentials, counterfeit currency, and hacking tools. The marketplace generated approximately $375 million in net drug sales.
As part of his guilty plea, Hamilton agreed to forfeit roughly 1,230 Bitcoin, 24.4 Ether, and three properties in Virginia. His co-creator, Thomas Pavey, also pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit approximately 1,584 Bitcoin, gold bars, vehicles, and Florida properties; he is awaiting sentencing.
Entities
Empire Market · Raheim Hamilton · Steven C. Seeger · Thomas Pavey · U.S. Department of Justice
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Empire Market generated nearly $375 million in net drug sales. blockchainreporter.net · www.spacemoney.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Raheim Hamilton was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison and fined $5 million. blockchainreporter.net · www.spacemoney.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Raheim Hamilton agreed to forfeit approximately 1,230 Bitcoin, 24.4 Ether, and three properties in Virginia. blockchainreporter.net · www.spacemoney.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Co-creator Thomas Pavey pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit roughly 1,584 Bitcoin, gold bars, vehicles, and properties. blockchainreporter.net · www.spacemoney.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Empire Market facilitated the sale of controlled substances, stolen credentials, counterfeit currency, and hacking tools. blockchainreporter.net · www.spacemoney.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Empire Market handled more than four million transactions worth over $430 million. blockchainreporter.net · www.spacemoney.com.br