Darknet money launderer receives 97-month sentence

Tal Prihar, an Israeli citizen who pleaded guilty in March 2021 to conspiracy to commit money laundering in violation of 18 USC § 1956, has been sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment.  From 2013 until 2019, Prihar operated a website, DeepDotWeb, where users could access links to illegal marketplaces enabling the purchase of firearms, hacking tools, malware, drugs and stolen financial information.  Prihar admitted to receiving kickbacks worth $8.4 million in exchange for access to the website, and to using shell companies to launder the virtual currency he received for this service.  Prihar also agreed to forfeit $8,414,173 in connection with the guilty plea.  His alleged co-conspirator, Michael Phan, was indicted along with Prihar, and arrested in Israel on May 6, 2019. 

DOJ press release | DOJ press release (Indictment)