News · Regulation & Policy
Federal prosecutors charged Thomas Pavey and Raheim Hamilton with running the darknet bazaar from 2018 to 2020, seizing $75 million in cryptocurrency.
Key point 1 of 3
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Thomas Pavey and Raheim Hamilton were indicted in Chicago federal court for running darknet platform Empire Market.
Key point 2 of 3
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The marketplace processed approximately four million illicit transactions worth over $430 million between 2018 and 2020.
Key point 3 of 3
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Federal investigators seized $75 million in cryptocurrency alongside cash and precious metals during the multi-agency probe.
Context
Empire Market arose in February 2018 to fill the vacuum created by the 2017 law enforcement takeovers of AlphaBay and Hansa Market, becoming the leading Western darknet platform…
Why it matters
The indictment targets top operators of legacy darknet markets, signaling continued cross-agency collaboration between HSI, the FBI, and USPIS in tracking historical illicit…
What to watch
Subsequent court appearances and trial scheduling for Pavey and Hamilton in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
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