Richard Castro of Windermere, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote, for distributing three controlled substances: carfentanil, phenyl fentanyl, and fentanyl.
The dark web drug dealer has forfeited $4 million, including Bitcoin and 100 quadrillion of Zimbabwe bank notes after selling those drugs to an undercover cop via encrypted email.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ), Castro who is also known as “Chemsusa,” “Chems_usa,” “Chemical_usa” and “Jagger109” among other aliases, used the dark web between 2015 and 2019 to sell controlled, restricted drugs.
On Dream Market, a dark web marketplace, Castro said that he had completed more than 3,200 transactions, including more than 1,800 on AlphaBay.
Drugs were sold by Castro in exchange for Bitcoin, in which he laundered them in several ways, including by funneling the millions of dollars through his seven Bitcoin wallets, and purchasing ludicrous amounts of Zimbabwean bank notes, as well as other valuables.
According to the release, fentanyl is “significantly stronger” than heroin, often prescribed for severe, chronic pain, while phenyl fentanyl is a more potent derivative of fentanyl.
Carfentanil which is around 100 times stronger than fentanyl, is considered deadly and is only officially used to sedate large animals such as elephants. This tranquilizer is 5,000 times more potent than heroin, and is used by drug dealers to give 'extra kick' to heroin. It is even considered a chemical weapon.
According to Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman:
It began in June 2018, when Castro told customers he was moving his business off dark web marketplaces and would instead accept customers' request via encrypted email. But before that, Casto asked his clients to pay a fee.
When an undercover law enforcement saw that message, he paid this fee, and obtained Casto's encrypted address. He then placed drug orders with Castro to track him down.
The co-conspirator, Luis Fernandez, shipped the drugs to the undercover police officer, leading to Castro's arrest.
Castro, who is 36 years old when he was arrested, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute the three controlled substances, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
