Dark Web Empire Market Co-Creator Raheim Hamilton Gets 40 Years in Prison
Dark Web Empire Market Co-Creator Raheim Hamilton Gets 40 Years in Prison
Raheim Hamilton, co-creator of the dark web marketplace Empire Market, has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for his role in operating a platform that processed over $430 million in illegal transactions. The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois reported that Hamilton, 30, from Suffolk, Virginia, co-owned and operated Empire Market from 2018 to 2020. Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago to a drug conspiracy charge.
Empire Market facilitated the trade of illegal goods and services, including controlled substances, stolen account credentials, personally identifiable information, counterfeit currency, and hacking tools. Prosecutors revealed that the site managed more than four million transactions during its operation, with drug sales accounting for the majority of its activity. Net drug sales reached nearly $375 million, involving substances such as fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.
Hamilton and co-creator Thomas Pavey designed the platform to help users evade law enforcement detection. The marketplace utilized cryptocurrency for transactions, and users were encouraged to employ tumbling and mixing services to obscure payments. The site also supported encrypted communications and allowed buyers to rate vendors based on their ability to discreetly ship drugs through the mail. Empire Market operated until 2020, when it vanished from the dark web, leading to speculation about a potential exit scam. Notably, the Justice Department’s sentencing announcement did not indicate that the site had been seized by law enforcement.
US District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Hamilton on Monday, imposing a $5 million fine. Hamilton also agreed to forfeit proceeds linked to the marketplace, including approximately 1,230 bitcoin, 24.4 Ether, and three properties in Virginia.
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