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Empire Market Co-Creator Sentenced to 40 Years for Cybercrime

Empire Market Co-Creator Sentenced to 40 Years for Cybercrime

First seen 8 Oct 2026, 12:33 UTC • •
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ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •October 8, 2026 at 13:30 UTC
  • •Raheim Hamilton sentenced to 40 years for operating Empire Market.
  • •Marketplace facilitated over $430 million in illegal transactions.
  • •Controlled substances accounted for nearly $375 million in sales.

Raheim Hamilton, co-creator of the Empire Market, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in facilitating over $430 million in illegal transactions between 2018 and 2020. The dark web marketplace enabled the anonymous sale of illegal goods, primarily controlled substances, including over 13,000 grams of fentanyl and nearly 447,000 grams of cocaine. Hamilton and his co-defendant, Thomas Pavey, designed the platform to help users evade law enforcement and launder money through cryptocurrency transactions. The marketplace peaked with approximately 1.68 million registered users and over 166,000 drug listings. Hamilton pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge earlier this year and agreed to forfeit significant assets, including bitcoin and properties. The U.S. Justice Department previously seized $75 million in assets related to the operation. Pavey is also set to be sentenced later this month.

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Timeline

2024-07-01
Hamilton and Pavey charged
U.S. Justice Department announced charges against Hamilton and Pavey for their roles in Empire Market's operations.
BleepingComputer
2026-01-01
Hamilton pleads guilty
Raheim Hamilton pleaded guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
Justice
2026-10-07
Hamilton sentenced
U.S. District Judge sentenced Hamilton to 40 years in prison and imposed a $5 million fine.
Justice

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Common questions

What illegal activities were conducted on Empire Market?
Empire Market facilitated the sale of illegal goods, primarily controlled substances, including drugs like fentanyl and cocaine.
What was the total value of transactions on Empire Market?
The marketplace facilitated over $430 million in illegal transactions during its operation.
What penalties did Hamilton face?
Raheim Hamilton was sentenced to 40 years in prison and fined $5 million for his role in the cybercrime operation.