Trends
Suspected bosses of $430M dark-web Empire Market charged
OUR TAKE Cybercrime super-souk’s Dopenugget and Zero Angel may face life behind bars if convicted. These illegal activities involve not only direct transactions between individuals, but also various financial frauds and identity thefts, which seriously affect public safety and personal financial sec…
Headline
OUR TAKE Cybercrime super-souk’s Dopenugget and Zero Angel may face life behind bars if convicted. These illegal activities involve not only direct transactions between individuals, but also various financial frauds and identity thefts, which seriously affect public safety and…
Context
OUR TAKE Cybercrime super-souk’s Dopenugget and Zero Angel may face life behind bars if convicted. These illegal activities involve not only direct transactions between individuals, but also various financial frauds and identity thefts, which seriously affect public safety and personal financial security. –Revel Cheng, BTW reporter The two alleged administrators of Empire Market, a dark-web bazaar that peddled drugs, malware, digital fraud, and other illegal stuff, have been detained on charges related to owning and operating the illicit souk.
Evidence
Pending intelligence enrichment.
Analysis
According to US prosecutors, 38-year-old Thomas Pavey, aka “Dopenugget,” of Ormond beach, Florida, and 28-year-old Raheim Hamilton, aka “Sydney” and “Zero Angel,” of Suffolk, Virginia, ran Empire Market between 2018 and 2020. During this period, they allegedly facilitated four million underworld transactions valued at more than $430 million by federal prosecutors. During an investigation and subsequent arrests, federal law enforcement is said to have seized cryptocurrency valued at $75 million along with cash and precious metals. In Empire Market, Buyers could browse the e-souk by category, including “Fraud,” “Drugs and Chemicals,” “Counterfeit Items,” and “Software and Malware.” Plus, these categories had sub-categories, so, for example, addicts could find “Cocaine,” “Heroin,” “Morphine,” “OxyCodone,” “Prescription,” “Meth,” “Opium,” and others under the drugs category, we’re told. After making a purchase, buyers could review and rate the vendors on various criteria including “stealth.” The suspected duo also alleged employed moderators to resolve any disputes between buyers and sellers on the site.
Key Points
- Empire Market, a dark-web bazaar that peddled drugs, malware, digital fraud, and other illegal stuff. Thomas Pavey and Raheim Hamilton have been detained on charges related to owning and operating the illicit souk.
- Both men remain in custody and await their arraignments in federal court.
Actions
Pending intelligence enrichment.
