Raheim Hamilton, co-creator of the dark-web marketplace Empire Market, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison and fined $5 million on October 7, 2026. The U.S. Department of Justice says the marketplace facilitated more than four million transactions valued at over $430 million. Co-creator Thomas Pavey had pleaded guilty, but the latest official announcement said his sentencing was scheduled for later in October; it did not report an outcome.
Who ran Empire Market?
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Thomas Pavey and Raheim Hamilton co-created and operated Empire Market from 2018 to 2020. The market began operating on February 1, 2018, according to the charging announcement. The DOJ’s October 7, 2026, sentencing release identifies both men as its operators.
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What happened to the two co-creators?
Raheim Hamilton: guilty plea and sentence
Hamilton pleaded guilty in January 2026 to a federal drug-conspiracy charge. The DOJ said he admitted that he and Pavey designed the marketplace to help users evade law enforcement and launder proceeds. On October 7, 2026, Hamilton received a 40-year federal prison sentence and a $5 million fine.
Thomas Pavey: guilty plea, sentencing status not confirmed
Pavey pleaded guilty to a federal drug-conspiracy charge in 2025, according to the DOJ’s January 2026 announcement. The October 7 release said his sentencing was set for later that month. The official material available for this account does not establish whether that hearing occurred or what sentence, if any, was imposed. Hamilton’s sentence should not be treated as Pavey’s outcome.
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How much money did Empire Market handle?
The DOJ reported that Empire Market facilitated more than four million transactions worth more than $430 million. In a plea-agreement factual account, the government estimated approximately 4,003,803 transactions and approximately $432,951,570.47 in net sales, including shipping charges. That account also estimated about 1,681,429 unique registered users by August 2020. These detailed figures are estimates in a government filing, rather than a separately audited financial statement. The DOJ separately reported nearly $375 million in net drug sales over the marketplace’s life.
What was sold on the marketplace?
The DOJ says users bought and sold illegal goods and services, including controlled substances, compromised or stolen account credentials, stolen personal identifying information, counterfeit currency, and computer-hacking tools. Transactions used cryptocurrency. The operators encouraged mixing services and encrypted communications to hinder detection and assist money laundering, according to the DOJ.
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How the case moved from charges to sentencing
- 2018–2020: DOJ says Pavey and Hamilton co-owned and operated Empire Market during this period.
- June 14, 2024: A superseding indictment charged both men with alleged conspiracies involving drug trafficking, computer fraud, access-device fraud, counterfeiting, and money laundering. These were allegations at the time, not findings of guilt.
- 2025: Pavey pleaded guilty to a federal drug-conspiracy charge, according to the DOJ’s January 2026 account.
- January 2026: Hamilton pleaded guilty to a federal drug-conspiracy charge and admitted conduct described by the DOJ.
- October 7, 2026: Hamilton was sentenced to 40 years in prison and fined $5 million. The DOJ said Pavey’s sentencing was scheduled for later in October.
The distinction matters: the 2024 indictment described accusations, while the later guilty pleas and Hamilton’s sentence reflect subsequent case developments. The DOJ’s October 7 announcement said: “During that time, the online market facilitated more than four million transactions between vendors and buyers valued at more than $430 million.”
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Official case announcements
- DOJ sentencing announcement, October 7, 2026
- DOJ charging announcement, June 14, 2024
- DOJ announcement of Hamilton’s guilty plea, January 27, 2026
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