Brian McDonald of Van Nuys who went by the names “Malachai Johnson,” “SouthSideOxy,” and “JefeDeMichoacan,” pleaded guilty on Wednesday to federal charges.
According to the indictment, from at least April 2021 until May 2023, McDonald, and accomplice Ciara Clutario, 22, conspired to sell fentanyl and cocaine via darknet marketplaces such as “White House Market,” “ToRReZ” and “AlphaBay.” McDonald, using aliases, created vendor profiles on these marketplaces to sell illegal drugs in exchange for cryptocurrency, the indictment alleges.
The indictment alleges that in May 2021, one week after McDonald created a darknet vendor profile to sell illegal drugs, he texted Clutario, stating that their darknet drug sales were "flourishing." Later that month, McDonald reportedly texted a co-conspirator, claiming he had just sold 20,000 pills to customers.
McDonald was also charged with possessing firearms, including two gold-plated handguns — one without a serial number — to protect his drug business and the cash earned from darknet marketplaces.
McDonald has a sentencing hearing for Oct. 21st.
A sentencing hearing for co-defendant Ciara Clutario, 23, of Burbank, is set for January 13, although the specific charges she admitted to are not clear.
