A Virginia man pleaded guilty in Chicago to a federal drug conspiracy charge involving the operation of Empire the dark web marketplace.
Rahiem Hamilton, 30, of Suffolk, Virginia, pleaded guilty Monday to his role in a scheme that prosecutors say allowed users to anonymously buy and sell illegal goods and services online. Prosecutors said Hamilton and 40-year-old Thomas Pavey of Ormond Beach, Florida, co-owned and operated the dark web marketplace Empire Market from 2018 to 2020.
During that time, the platform facilitated more than four million transactions between buyers and vendors, with sales exceeding $430 million, making it one of the largest dark web marketplaces of its kind, according to prosecutors.
Illegal items sold on the site included controlled substances, stolen or compromised account credentials, personal identification information, counterfeit currency, and computer-hacking tools. Drug sales alone accounted for nearly $375 million in revenue. All transactions on the site required the use of cryptocurrency.
In a plea agreement, prosecutors said Hamilton admitted that he and Pavey designed Empire Market to help users evade law enforcement detection and launder money generated from illegal activity.
Both men agreed to forfeit illicit proceeds, multiple properties, and other assets. They are awaiting sentencing, with Hamilton’s scheduled for June 17. The conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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