Empire Market Co-Creator Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison
Summary
Raheim Hamilton, co-creator and operator of the Empire Market dark web marketplace, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for facilitating $430 million in illegal transactions from 2018 to 2020.
Key points
- Hamilton, also known as “Sydney” and “ZeroAngel,” operated Empire Market from 2017 until its shutdown in 2020.
- The marketplace facilitated more than 4 million transactions and had about 1.68 million registered users at its peak.
- Empire Market offered stolen credentials, hacking tools, and personal information, but drug sales were its most prevalent activity.
- Hamilton admitted the marketplace was designed to help users evade law enforcement and launder money; transactions used cryptocurrency.
- Authorities seized about $75 million in cryptocurrency during the investigation.
- Hamilton agreed to forfeit three Virginia properties, approximately 1,230 bitcoin, and 24.4 Ether.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Criminal sentencing of a cybercrime marketplace operator
- Impact
- Raheim Hamilton received a 40-year prison sentence for facilitating $430 million in illegal transactions through Empire Market from 2018 to 2020. Hamilton and Thomas Pavey facilitated more than 4 million transactions, including sales of stolen credentials, hacking tools, personally identifiable information, and drugs. Authorities reported seizing $75 million in cryptocurrency during the investigation. Both defendants also agreed to forfeit cryptocurrency and other assets.
People
Threat Actors
DopenuggetAlias of Thomas Pavey, Hamilton's accomplice in operating the Empire Market cybercrime marketplace.Raheim HamiltonOperated Empire Market, which facilitated sales of stolen credentials, hacking tools, and personally identifiable information alongside other illegal goods. The article identifies Sydney and ZeroAngel as his online aliases.SydneyOnline alias of Raheim Hamilton, the operator of the Empire Market cybercrime marketplace.Thomas PaveyKnown as Dopenugget; helped Hamilton operate Empire Market, which facilitated sales of stolen credentials, hacking tools, and personally identifiable information.ZeroAngelOnline alias of Raheim Hamilton, used when selling on AlphaBay before operating Empire Market.