NDTX Charges Alleged DarkWeb Drug Trafficker Arrested in DOJ Operation DisrupTor
Sep 22, 2020 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice
Today, the Department of Justice, through the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team, joined Europol to announce the results of Operation DisrupTor, a coordinated international effort to disrupt opioid trafficking on the Darknet.
Defendants
- Aaron Brewer — age 39 · Corsicana, Texas · indicted
- Teresa McGrath — age 34 · Sunland-Tujunga, California · pleaded guilty
- Mark Chavez — age 41 · Los Angeles, California · pleaded guilty
- Andres Bermudez — age 37 · Palmdale, California · charged
- Arden McCann — age 32 · Quebec, Canada · indicted
- Khlari Sirotkin — age 36 · Colorado · indicted
- Kelly Stephens — age 32 · Colorado · indicted
- Sean Deaver — age 36 · Nevada · indicted
- Abby Jones — age 37 · Nevada · indicted
- Sasha Sirotkin — age 32 · California · indicted
- William Anderson Burgamy — age 33 · Hanover, Maryland · pleaded guilty
- Hyrum T. Wilson — age 41 · Auburn, Nebraska · pleaded guilty
Charges
Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
Aaron Brewer· indicted
Distribution of a controlled substance
Aaron Brewer· indicted
Narcotics-trafficking and other offenses
Max: 15-year mandatory minimum sentenceTeresa McGrath· pleaded guilty
Narcotics-trafficking and other offenses
Max: 15-year mandatory minimum sentenceMark Chavez· pleaded guilty
Narcotics-trafficking offense
Max: 10-year mandatory minimum sentenceAndres Bermudez· charged
Conspiring to import drugs into the United States
Arden McCann· indicted
Money laundering conspiracy
Arden McCann· indicted
Drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy
Khlari Sirotkin· indicted
Drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy
Kelly Stephens· indicted
Drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy
Sean Deaver· indicted
Drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy
Abby Jones· indicted
Drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy
Sasha Sirotkin· indicted
Conspiracy to use explosives to firebomb and destroy a competitor pharmacy
William Anderson Burgamy· pleaded guilty
Conspiracy to use explosives to firebomb and destroy a competitor pharmacy
Hyrum T. Wilson· pleaded guilty
Financial actions
- seizure: $6.5 million — Money seized in Operation DisrupTor worldwide
- seizure: $870 — Postage stamps seized following Brewer's arrest, along with heroin, cocaine, OxyContin, two computers, and a drug shipment ledger
- seizure: $1.6 million — Cryptocurrency seized along with methamphetamine and pressed pills in Los Angeles JCODE investigation
- seizure: $80,191 — Cash seized along with fentanyl, pills, drugs, pill press, marijuana, and firearms
- seizure: over $19,000 — Cash seized along with opioid pills and firearms in Eastern District of Virginia firebomb plot case
From the announcement
“Criminals selling fentanyl on the Darknet should pay attention to Operation DisrupTor,”
“The arrest of 179 of them in seven countries—with the seizure of their drug supplies and their money as well — shows that there will be no safe haven for drug dealing in cyberspace.”
Investigating agencies
Case details
- Prosecuting office
- Northern District of Texas
- Assets
- bitcoin
Primary source
Every fact above is drawn from the Department of Justice's own announcement — a public-domain government record.
Read the original DOJ release →This is a research and reference page compiled from public DOJ announcements, not legal advice. Details reflect the government's statements as of its release date and may not capture later developments such as appeals, dismissals, or overturned convictions. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.