A Virginia man who co-created Empire Market pleaded guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges after operating a TOR-accessible AlphaBay clone that facilitated about $430 million in illicit transactions from 2018 to 2020. Authorities documented extensive drug sales, undercover purchases, seizures of drugs and roughly $75 million in cryptocurrency, and the defendants agreed to large forfeitures while facing lengthy federal prison terms. #EmpireMarket #RaheimHamilton
Keypoints
- Raheim Hamilton admitted operating Empire Market, which processed approximately $430 million in illegal transactions from 2018–2020.
- Empire Market ran as a TOR hidden service and was promoted as an AlphaBay “clone.”
- Drug sales dominated the marketplace, totaling nearly $375 million with over 166,000 vendor listings for controlled substances.
- Hamilton and co-defendant Thomas Pavey managed the site, used moderators to resolve disputes, and conducted transactions in cryptocurrency to evade law enforcement.
- Law enforcement made undercover purchases, seized drugs and about $75 million in cryptocurrency, and the defendants agreed to forfeitures and face severe federal sentences.