Suffolk man who co-ran dark web drug marketplace pleads guilty in $430 million case

A Suffolk man who co-created and operated one of the world’s largest dark-web drug marketplaces has pleaded guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Raheim Hamilton, 30, entered a guilty plea Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, admitting he helped run Empire Market, an online marketplace that allowed users to anonymously buy and sell illegal drugs and other illicit goods using cryptocurrency.

Hamilton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances, including heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, according to court records. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger scheduled sentencing for June 17, 2026.

Federal prosecutors said Hamilton and co-defendant Thomas Pavey co-owned and operated Empire Market from 2018 until August 2020. During that period, the site facilitated more than 4 million transactions totaling more than $430 million, making it one of the largest dark-web marketplaces at the time.

Court documents state that controlled substances were the site’s primary commodity, accounting for nearly $375 million in net drug sales. Vendors sold heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs, often shipping them through the mail to buyers across the United States. Investigators documented undercover purchases of drugs from Empire Market vendors, including methamphetamine and heroin, as part of the federal investigation.

In his plea agreement, Hamilton admitted he and Pavey designed Empire Market to evade law enforcement detection. The site operated exclusively on the Tor network, required all transactions to be conducted using cryptocurrency, and the use of encrypted communications. Hamilton also acknowledged taking steps to launder proceeds from the operation through cryptocurrency mixers and tumblers.

As part of the agreement, Hamilton consented to the forfeiture of assets tied to the operation, including approximately 1,230 bitcoin, more than 24 ether, and three Virginia properties, including a residence in Suffolk. The forfeiture also includes multiple electronic devices and cash seized during the investigation.

Pavey, 40, of Ormond Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty last year to a similar federal drug conspiracy charge. He is awaiting sentencing and faces the same maximum penalty. Prosecutors said Pavey agreed to forfeit more than 1,500 bitcoin, gold bars, vehicles and Florida properties as part of his plea agreement.