BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Ryan Scott Cochran, also known by his alias “namedeclined,” pled guilty on Thursday in federal court to charges of distributing fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine via the United States mail. The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr. Cochran, who had been operating as a highly rated vendor on various dark web marketplaces for over a decade, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
As part of his plea agreement, Cochran consented to forfeit more than $200,000 in cash, cryptocurrency, and funds held in bank accounts, all of which had already been seized by law enforcement. He also agreed to forfeit an additional $900,000 at a later date.
According to court documents and statements made during the plea proceeding, Cochran used the dark web to advertise and sell illegal drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, which he then shipped across the United States and internationally using the United States Postal Service. In addition to drug trafficking, Cochran also sold fraudulent identification documents and other forged materials, such as health insurance cards, through the dark web.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the guilty plea, expressing gratitude to the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their assistance in the case.
Cochran’s sentencing date has not yet been set, but he faces up to 20 years in prison for his crimes.
