Operator of Crypto-Fueled Dark Web Drug Market Sentenced to 30 Years
Rui-Siang Lin, a Taiwanese national, was sentenced to 30 years in U.S. federal prison for operating Incognito Market, a crypto-enabled dark web platform that facilitated more than 640,000 narcotics transactions and generated over $105 million. Using the alias "Pharoah," Lin sold more than a ton of drugs, including fentanyl-laced pills, to over 400,000 buyers worldwide between 2020 and 2024. Lin managed the operation from St. Lucia and even trained local police in cybercrime and cryptocurrency. The platform, accessible via Tor, maintained its own crypto "bank," taking a 5% commission on sales and enabling anonymous trades among 1,800 vendors. In 2022, Lin allowed opiate sales, which contributed to at least one fatal overdose. Before shutting down the site in 2024, Lin stole at least $1 million from user deposits and tried to extort platform users by threatening to expose their transaction histories. He was arrested at JFK Airport in May 2024. Lin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics, money laundering, and distributing adulterated medication. He must also forfeit $105 million and serve five years of supervised release.
