Operation yields fentanyl dealer indictments

Department of Justice authorities are crediting Operation Dark Gold,
the first nationwide undercover operation targeting darknet vendors, with yielding a series of illegal drug dealing indictments.

Authorities said Sean Shaughnessy, 51, of Dallas Fort Worth, Texas, was charged by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance analogue and eight counts of money laundering.

Shaughnessy’s indictment is directly connected to the operation. Shaughnessy allegedly sold fentanyl and fentanyl analogues over the dark web, an unindexed portion of the internet accessible only via specialized software that allows users to conduct transactions with relative anonymity.

The indictment alleges buyers purchased the fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, which was shipped to their addresses, using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

The Department of Justice said the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) of the agency’s Criminal Division worked in conjunction with law enforcement and federal prosecutors from more than 50 U.S. Attorney’s Offices to investigate 65 targets identified by the undercover operation, which led to the arrest and impending prosecution of more than 30 darknet vendors.

One year after 70 search warrants were executed in May 2018, authorities said numerous opioid and narcotics distributors have been charged and convicted around the country.