“This alleged scheme was a brazen attempt to use the dark web to conceal a national drug trafficking operation. Even though this activity originated on the dark web, it can still lead to the same dangerous drug-related violence in our neighborhoods that we see far too often,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Technology is evolving but so is our office and I am grateful to the talented prosecutors, investigators and analysts who are diligently working on and bringing their leading expertise to this complex case. No matter where illegal drug trafficking and selling originates, we will use every tool at our disposal to dismantle these operations and keep our streets safe.” 

“Using our blockchain analysis expertise, our investigators, prosecutors, and specialized cryptocurrency analysts were able to locate and freeze more than $1.3 million of stolen cryptocurrency in the past 10 months alone,” said D.A. Bragg. “While many of these cyberthieves are overseas and currently out of our reach, the cryptocurrency they stole is not.”

“Chester Anderson profited by operating in the shadows of the dark web to sell illicit drugs,” said Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg.

“As alleged, this sprawling web of international money laundering helped drug traffickers, an organized crime ring, and scammers hide their criminal activity and transmit their proceeds around the globe,” said District Attorney Bragg.