Cryptocurrencies used to accumulate millions selling drugs on the dark web

Cryptocurrencies have forever been associated with various illicit activities that often include drugs, ransoms, illegal weapons, and most of these operated in the shadows of the dark web which is heavily dependant on cryptocurrencies. The anonymity involved in crypto transactions is the prime feature that attracts these misfits, which allows them to leave no trace behind. Quite recently one such event surfaced which involved cryptocurrencies, drugs and the dark web.

Sky Justin Gornik, has just been sentenced to 70 months of prison for distributing drugs like carfentanil and fentanyl by San Diego district court judge Anthony J. Battaglia. The accused allegedly managed to accumulate millions of dollars in various cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Monero. He used various aliases to conduct his business on various dark web market places like Alpha Bay, Dream Market, and Trade Route.

Cryptocurrencies used to purchase drugs

Gornik bought and sold fentanyl, ketamine, oxycodone pills, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), psilocybin, amphetamine, buprenorphine, methamphetamine, and naloxone all using various cryptocurrencies. He also admitted that he used to buy the fatal drug opiate carfentanil and various other controlled substances. After raiding his home, authorities were able to find 1.7 grams of carfentanil and multiple sheets of fentanyl gelatin tablets. The amount of carfentanil found was close to “86,000 fatal dosages.”

Fentanyl imported from China

The accused is said to have purchased 600-1200 fentanyl gel tablets every week for 2 years from a dark web dealer based in Oklahoma by the name of Wallace George. George has also been prosecuted by authorities in his home state for making fentanyl tablets using pure fentanyl ordered from China.

Popular crypto exchanges used

As a part of the plea, the accused admitted that he laundered drug proceeds using cryptocurrencies which he said he held on US-based exchanges like Bittrex and Poloniex. US attorney Robert S. Brewer Jr, commented on the event and praised AUSA Sherri Hobson and his team for cracking the case saying:

“Dark Web traffickers take note: we will not allow you to lurk in murky corners of the internet, selling and delivering deadly drugs as casually as an Amazon Prime package,” he further added “cracking through multiple levels of anonymity mazes to uncover the true nature and extent of Gornik’s drug dealing and money laundering.”