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California Couple to Forfeit Cryptocurrency Riches After Drug Bust

The couple must forfeit an undisclosed sum of bitcoin and bitcoin cash they acquired from selling illicit goods on a dark web marketplace.

By Daniel Kuhn
AccessTimeIconAug 7, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 14, 2021 at 1:51 p.m. UTC
drugs
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A California couple has pleaded guilty to a series of crimes related to darknet cryptocurrency deals, according to a Department of Justice filing on August 6.

Jabari and Saudia Monson are required to forfeit an undisclosed sum of bitcoin and bitcoin cash they acquired from selling illicit goods on Dream Market, a prominent anonymized marketplace.

Between July 2018 through January 2019 the couple operated vendor accounts named “Best Buy Meds,” “Trap Mart” and “House Of Dank” to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, methamphetamine, and marijuana.

Following an investigation conducted by the Homeland Security Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Jabari Monson pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances. He faces a maximum sentence of 40 years and a $5 million fine.

Saudia Monson pleaded guilty to violating the Travel Act and using the mail and internet to distribute controlled substances. She faces a maximum of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 19, where U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez will preside.

Drugs photo via Shutterstock

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