A 30-year-old Virginia man who helped create and run Empire Market, one of the largest dark web marketplaces of its era, pleaded guilty Monday to federal drug conspiracy charges in Chicago.
Raheim Hamilton of Suffolk, Virginia entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger in the Northern District of Illinois. He faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in federal prison, with a maximum sentence of life. Sentencing is scheduled for June 17, 2026.
Hamilton and co-defendant Thomas Pavey operated Empire Market from 2018 to 2020. The marketplace processed over four million transactions totaling more than $430 million, establishing it as one of the largest platforms of its kind during that period.
The site offered a range of illegal products and services including controlled substances, stolen account credentials, compromised personal information, counterfeit currency, and hacking tools. Drug sales dominated the platform's activity, accounting for nearly $375 million in transactions over its lifespan.
In his plea agreement, Hamilton acknowledged that he and Pavey intentionally designed Empire Market to help users evade detection and launder money from illegal transactions. The platform required all transactions to be conducted exclusively in cryptocurrency.
Hamilton agreed to forfeit approximately 1,230 bitcoin, 24.4 Ether, and three Virginia properties as part of his plea deal.
Pavey, 40, of Ormond Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to the same charge last year and awaits sentencing. His forfeiture includes roughly 1,584 bitcoin, two boxes of 25-ounce gold bars, three vehicles, and two Florida properties.
