TLDR

  • Rui-Siang Lin, a 24-year-old from Taiwan, known as “Pharaoh” while operating the dark web marketplace Incognito Market, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
  • From October 2020 to March 2024, the marketplace facilitated over $105 million in illicit drug transactions, executing more than 640,000 sales for hundreds of thousands of global customers.
  • Authorities identified Lin using blockchain analysis, covert purchases, and domain registration details that included his actual name, phone number, and address.
  • Lin personally profited over $6 million from the venture, which distributed more than 1,000 kilograms each of cocaine and methamphetamines, alongside other controlled substances such as counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
  • Upon closing the marketplace, Lin stole at least $1 million from user accounts and tried to extort vendors and buyers by threatening to expose their personal data online.

On Tuesday, a federal judge handed Rui-Siang Lin a 30-year prison sentence for running Incognito Market, one of the most extensive online drug platforms since Silk Road. The 24-year-old Taiwanese citizen operated the marketplace, known by his alias “Pharaoh,” from October 2020 to March 2024.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York confirmed the sentencing after Lin’s guilty plea in December 2024. He admitted guilt to charges of narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy to distribute adulterated and misbranded drugs.

During its operational period, Incognito Market handled over $105 million in illicit drug sales. The platform enabled more than 640,000 transactions and catered to hundreds of thousands of purchasers worldwide. Accessible via the Tor web browser, the marketplace functioned on the dark web.

The platform distributed in excess of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine and over 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamines. Additionally, it moved hundreds of kilograms of various other controlled substances. The site offered more than 4 kilograms of pills marketed as oxycodone, with some found to contain fentanyl rather than the stated drug.

Lin amassed over $6 million in personal earnings from the enterprise. The marketplace imposed a 5% commission on each sale from its vendors. These commissions covered the site’s operational expenses, such as staff wages and server maintenance.

Law Enforcement Investigation Methods

Investigators tracked the operation using various techniques, including analysis and covert acquisitions. A significant breakthrough occurred when authorities uncovered domain registration records for the marketplace. Lin had registered the domain with his actual name, phone number, and address.

The marketplace incorporated design elements resembling legitimate e-commerce platforms. It offered branding, promotional content, and customer support functionalities. Users, upon logging in with distinct credentials, could explore thousands of drug listings.

Incognito Market maintained its proprietary internal banking system, known as the Incognito Bank. Users were able to deposit funds into individual accounts on the platform. This banking system ensured anonymity between buyers and sellers during transactions.

Educational Background and Operations

Lin attended National Taiwan University prior to fulfilling Taiwan’s civilian alternative service. He worked in St. Lucia providing technical assistance. While there, he educated local police on cybercrime and cryptocurrency, all while concurrently managing the drug marketplace.

In January 2022, Lin declared a policy alteration that expressly allowed vendors to offer opiates on the platform. This resulted in the distribution of counterfeit prescription drugs. In November 2023, a covert law enforcement agent acquired tablets promoted as oxycodone, which subsequently tested positive for fentanyl.

The operation was linked to at least one verified fatality. On September 13, 2022, a 27-year-old Arkansas resident passed away after ingesting alleged oxycodone bought from Incognito Market. Tests revealed the pills contained fentanyl, not oxycodone.

Platform Growth and Closure

The marketplace expanded to cater to over 400,000 buyer accounts. More than 1,800 vendors distributed drugs via the platform. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton asserted that Lin worsened the opioid crisis and inflicted damage upon over 470,000 drug users and their relatives.

In March 2024, Lin shut down the marketplace by misappropriating at least $1 million from user funds. Subsequently, he tried to extort both vendors and buyers. Lin demanded payments, threatening to disclose their transaction histories and cryptocurrency addresses online.

Judge Colleen McMahon imposed the sentence and described Incognito Market as a business that made Lin “a drug kingpin.” She stated this was the “most serious drug crime I have ever been confronted with in 27.5 years” on the bench.

Beyond his prison term, Lin was given five years of supervised release. The court additionally mandated the forfeiture of $105,045,109.67.