# Empire Market co-creator sentenced to 40 years in prison

_Published Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 7:07 AM EDT · Security, Policy · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

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Raheim Hamilton, co-creator of the dark web marketplace Empire Market, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for facilitating $430 million in illegal transactions from 2018 to 2020, BleepingComputer reports.

The marketplace sold stolen account credentials, hacking tools and personal information alongside drugs, its most prevalent trade. Hamilton and co-defendant Thomas Pavey facilitated more than 4 million transactions. The site required cryptocurrency payments and encouraged users to conceal transactions with mixing services.

Hamilton pleaded guilty in January and agreed to forfeit three Virginia properties, approximately 1,230 bitcoin and 24.4 Ether. Empire Market shut down in 2020; Pavey is due to be sentenced later this month.

## Sources

- [BleepingComputer](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/owner-of-empire-cybercrime-market-gets-40-years-in-prison/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/IsnO-hv9K2zkYKgYnE54VP
Published: 2026-10-08T11:07:46.246Z
Story chronology: 2026-10-08T10:29:19.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-08T13:30:03.146Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)