Two Charged And Two Sentenced In Scheme To Sell Narcotics On Dark Web

MAY 11 - MIAMI, Fla. - Joshua J. Kelly, aka “Ustous,” 32, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., was charged by criminal complaint today with one count of conspiracy to distribute in narcotics, in and one count of conspiracy to launder money.  Kelly becomes the fourth defendant in separate but related cases involving individuals selling controlled substances in exchange for virtual currencies on the Dark Web.

In separate but related cases, Robert Kenneth Decker, aka “DigitalPossi2014,” 50, of Detroit, Mich., and Chrissano S. Leslie, aka “OwlCity,” 26, of Lauderhill, Fla., were sentenced to 140 months and 70 months in prison, respectively, to be followed by three years of supervised release. These defendants both previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Leslie also pled guilty to one count of access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

In another separate but related case, Kevin C. Fusco, aka “Polira,” 29, of New York, N.Y., was charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

These cases are part of a criminal investigation into drug dealers operating on online through "Dark Web" criminal marketplaces designed to promote the anonymous sale of illegal items, such as narcotics, in exchange for Bitcoin and other virtual currencies.

Specifically, since July of 2015, law enforcement identified a narcotics vendor known as “OwlCity” (identified as defendant Leslie) appearing on several criminal Dark Web marketplaces. On several occasions, Drug Enforcement (DEA) agents made undercover online purchases of controlled substances from “OwlCity” and received the purchased narcotics, to include fentanyl, heroin, and alpha-PVP, via U.S. Mail.

Since September of 2015, law enforcement identified a narcotics vendor known as “Polira” (identified as defendant Fusco) appearing on Dark Web marketplaces. “Polira” conducted at least 492 transactions on at least two of these marketplaces. On both marketplaces, “Polira” advertised MDMA. On several occasions, DEA agents made undercover online purchases of MDMA from “Polira” and received the MDMA via U.S. mail.

Since October of 2015, law enforcement identified narcotics vendors known as “Ustous” and “DigitalPossi2014” (identified as defendants Kelly and Decker, respectively) on numerous Dark Web marketplaces. “Ustous” conducted thousands of transactions on numerous Dark Web marketplaces and on all of these marketplaces “Ustous” advertised dangerous opioids, synthetic drugs and Schedule II controlled substances for sale, including: fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alpha-PVP and oxycodone. On several occasions, DEA agents made undercover online purchases of heroin, alpha-("Flakka") and MDMA from “Ustous” and made undercover online purchases of hydrocodone from “DigitalPossi2014” and received the drugs via U.S. Mail.

These defendants conspired with the unknown administrators of criminal online marketplace websites to distribute controlled substances, and conspired with the unknown administrators of these websites to knowingly conduct financial transactions, in virtual currencies, involving the proceeds of unlawful narcotics trafficking activities, knowing that the transactions were designed to conceal and disguise the nature of the proceeds.

These cases are the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF) a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.

This investigation was conducted by the DEA Miami Field Division; the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Miami Field Office; the Postal Inspection Service Miami Division; and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Miami Field Office.  It is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida.