Empire Market co-creator Raheim Hamilton sentenced to 40 years in prison
A federal judge has sentenced Empire Market co-creator Raheim Hamilton to 40 years in prison and ordered the forfeiture of about 1,230 Bitcoin for operating the darknet marketplace.
U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced 30-year-old Raheim Hamilton of Suffolk, Virginia, to 40 years in federal prison and fined him $5 million for his role in co-founding and running the illicit dark web bazaar Empire Market, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois. Hamilton previously pleaded guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge.[1][2][4]
Between 2018 and 2020, Empire Market processed more than four million transactions valued at over $430 million, with net drug sales totaling nearly $375 million. The platform required all payments to be conducted in cryptocurrency and encouraged customers to use mixing and tumbling services to obscure their tracks. Alongside controlled substances such as fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, the marketplace hosted sales of stolen identity records, compromised account credentials, counterfeit cash, and computer hacking tools.[1][2][4][5]
Under his plea agreement, Hamilton agreed to forfeit approximately 1,230 Bitcoin, 24.4 Ether, and three properties in Virginia. Co-founder Thomas Pavey also pleaded guilty to related offenses, agreed to forfeit about 1,584 Bitcoin along with other assets, and is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.[2][3][4][5]
Key facts
- Raheim Hamilton was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison and fined $5 million for operating Empire Market.
- Hamilton pleaded guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge and agreed to forfeit approximately 1,230 Bitcoin, 24.4 Ether, and three Virginia properties.
- From 2018 to 2020, Empire Market facilitated over four million transactions worth more than $430 million, including nearly $375 million in net drug sales.
- Empire Market mandated the use of cryptocurrency for all transactions and promoted mixing and tumbling services to launder funds.
- Co-creator Thomas Pavey previously pleaded guilty, agreed to forfeit roughly 1,584 Bitcoin, and is scheduled for sentencing in October 2026.
Sources · 5 sources
- TE
Techmeme@TechmemePost on X ·
A US judge sentenced Raheim Hamilton, co-creator of the dark web marketplace Empire Market, to 40 years in prison for facilitating $430M in illegal transactions (@serghei / BleepingComputer) (Visit Techmeme dot com for the link and full context!)
Open source - BS
BSCN@BSCNewsPost on X ·
Dark Web Drug Market Boss Faces Prison And a Massive Bitcoin Forfeiture Raheim Hamilton, co-founder of darknet marketplace Empire Market, received a 40-year federal prison sentence. Hamilton pleaded guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge. He agreed to forfeit about 1,230 Bitcoin bitcoin:native, 24.4 ethereum:native and three Virginia properties. U.S. authorities said the marketplace facilitated more than four million transactions between 2018 and 2020.
Open source - DE
DecryptArticle ·
Empire Market Co-Creator Sentenced to 40 Years Over $430M Dark Web Bazaar Raheim Hamilton forfeited some 1,230 BTC. His co-creator Thomas Pavey, who agreed to forfeit 1,584 BTC, is due to be sentenced this month.
Open source - WB
Wu Blockchain@WuBlockchainPost on X ·
Empire Market Co-Founder Sentenced to 40 Years, Forfeits 1,230 BTC According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Empire Market co-founder Raheim Hamilton was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for a drug conspiracy offense and fined $5 million. From 2018 to 2020, the darknet marketplace facilitated more than 4 million transactions worth over $430 million, including nearly $375 million in net drug sales. The platform required all transactions to be conducted in cryptocurrency and encouraged users to use mixing services. Hamilton pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit about 1,230 BTC, 24.4 ETH and three properties. Co-founder Thomas Pavey also previously pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit about 1,584 BTC and other assets, with sentencing expected later this month.
Open source - CO
CoindeskArticle ·
Dark web drug market operator sentenced to 40 years, forfeits $101 million in bitcoin A man from Virginia, who facilitated millions of drug transactions worth roughly $430 million, agreed to give up $100 million worth of BTC. His partner forfeited nearly 1,600 BTC.
Open source