Guilty Plea in Dark-Web Drug Case
A Southern California man has admitted to taking part in a dark-web drug trafficking scheme that moved large quantities of fentanyl-pressed pills and methamphetamine for more than two years.
Details of the Operation
Devlin Hosner, 36, of Indio, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiring to distribute controlled substances. Prosecutors say Hosner and his co-defendant, Holly Adams, 35, of Palm Desert, ran vendor accounts on the ToRReZ and Dark0de darknet markets between 2020 and 2022, where they sold counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. The pair allegedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars and pushed the proceeds through cryptocurrency mixers, digital wallets, and other online tools to conceal the source of the crypto.
First Law Enforcement Search
Law enforcement first searched the couple’s residence in September 2021. According to court filings, Hosner tried to slow down officers attempting to enter, while Adams attempted to destroy pills by dumping them into a chemical solution. Both were arrested by state authorities, but were later released, and investigators say they quietly resumed selling fentanyl on the dark web while federal agents continued to monitor them.
Second Search and Federal Arrest
Federal authorities moved in again in March 2022, this time at a hotel room in Riverside County where Hosner and Adams had been staying. Agents seized nearly a kilogram of fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills along with about 60 grams of methamphetamine. The two were then arrested on federal charges.
Co-Defendant’s Sentencing
Adams pleaded guilty earlier and, in June 2025, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
Upcoming Sentencing for Hosner
Hosner is scheduled to be sentenced on 24 March 2026 by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez. He faces a mandatory minimum of ten years and a potential maximum sentence of life in prison, along with a possible $1 million fine. The court will determine the final sentence after reviewing statutory factors and the federal sentencing guidelines.
