Joint law enforcement operation leads to arrest of largest dark net fentanyl vendor in the US

Operation Darkness Falls, a joint operation targeting fentanyl and other drug distributors over the dark net, has resulted in several arrests associated to such bad actor behavior, including the most recent arrest of MH4Life, the fourth most prolific dark net fentanyl vendor in the world and the top vendor in the United States.

Matthew Roberts and Holly Roberts, whose virtual identity was MH4Life, were charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and other crimes. The couple operated several dark net marketplace accounts between 2011 and May of this year with the intent of distributing fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, LSD, marijuana, methamphetamine, Oxycodone, Xanax and other drugs.

In addition to MH4Life, the Roberts’ created and operated three additional dark net marketplace accounts on dark websites, including but not limited to Dream Market, Silk Road, and AlphaBay. A Dream Market review showed that MH4Life had the highest number of verified transactions worldwide of any fentanyl vendor.

“The mechanics of drug dealing has changed, and law enforcement has changed with it,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “These cases demonstrate that those who think they are hiding behind a cloak of anonymity on the dark net will be uncovered and brought to justice for selling the drugs killing our friends and neighbors.”

Other cases charged as part of Operation Darkness Falls include Robert Kiessling, operator of DF44, the third-largest fentanyl vendor in North America; Nick Powell, operator of The Source and BonnieNClyde, for Xanax distribution and dark net money laundering; and Ryan Kluth, operator of Panachecak, for crimes involving fentanyl and child pornography.

Darkness Falls was a joint operation between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.