Some recent news about Trappy

Just found this about trappy. Haven't seen it posted yet, but my apologies if it has. Sorry its a daily mail article, lol.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-5478599/Darknet-market-spokesman-pleads-guilty-federal-charge.html


Comments


[13 Points] OpiLuvr:

ATLANTA (AP) - An Illinois man who worked as a spokesman for a leading "darknet" marketplace that users accessed anonymously to buy and sell illicit goods pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal conspiracy charge in Atlanta.

Ronald L. Wheeler III of Streamwood, Illinois, worked for about two years as a public relations specialist for AlphaBay, which authorities have said was the world's leading darknet marketplace until it was taken down through an international law enforcement effort in July. People used it to trade in illegal drugs, guns, counterfeit goods and hacking tools, among other things.

Wheeler worked with others to steal personal information - including passwords, email addresses and bank account numbers - to obtain money, goods and services, prosecutors said in a court filing.

Wheeler, known online as Trappy and Trappy_Pandora, began working as AlphaBay's public relations specialist in May 2015. His duties included moderating the AlphaBay forum on Reddit and posting information about AlphaBay in other Reddit forums, mediating sales disputes among the marketplace's users, providing nontechnical assistance to users and promoting AlphaBay online, Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal told the judge.

"Wheeler spent hours on the Dark Web and general Internet providing AlphaBay users tips for attempting to avoid detection by law enforcement," U.S. Attorney Byung J. "BJay" Pak said in a news release.

One of Wheeler's duties was to let AlphaBay users know when the site would be down for maintenance. That was important, Kaushal said, because it was necessary to reassure users that the site hadn't been taken down by law enforcement or otherwise compromised.

Wheeler was paid a salary in bitcoin, a digital currency, by Alexandre Cazes, the 25-year-old Canadian owner of AlphaBay who was known online as Alpha02 and Admin, the court filing says.

AlphaBay used Tor, a network of thousands of computers run by volunteers, to hide its tracks. With Tor, traffic gets relayed through multiple computers, with identifying information stripped at each stop so no single computer knows the full chain.

"If people think the Dark Web gives them autonomy to operate illegally behind a cyber-curtain without the scrutiny of law enforcement, then Mr. Wheeler's plea is a stark reminder that we won't let that happen," Special Agent David J. LeValley, who heads the FBI's Atlanta office, said in the release.

The court filing says Wheeler's work with AlphaBay ended July 3, 2017. Two days later, Cazes was arrested in Thailand with DEA and FBI assistance, with AlphaBay going offline. Cazes died in Thai police custody on July 12. The country's narcotics police chief told reporters at the time that Cazes hanged himself in jail just prior to a scheduled court hearing.

The police agency Europol estimates AlphaBay had done $1 billion in business since its 2014 creation. Cazes had amassed a $23 million fortune as the site's creator and administrator, according to court documents.

As part of a plea deal reached with prosecutors, Wheeler agreed to forfeit $27,562 in cash found in his home and 13.97 bitcoins, Kaushal said. Wheeler has also been cooperating with investigators.

U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May accepted the 24-year-old Wheeler's guilty plea and set sentencing for May 24. Wheeler faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.


[15 Points] Tomislav23:

Lol that nigga sold everyone or some shit, only 5 years? For being the PR guy of the biggest darknet drug traffic ring ever created? Niceeeeeeeeeee


[12 Points] wombat2combat:

anybody got mug-shots of him?


[6 Points] Kritone:

trappy felt in a trap


[6 Points] SirBandolero:

We learn from other people's mistake. So how he was caught? What was his mistake?


[2 Points] boyishsuggestion:

Yeah police were in Atlanta looking for him. All thats left is BM


[2 Points] Thx002:

5 years in prison, lucky, hope he gives us a visit after he does his time, would be very interesting what he has to say.


[2 Points] Mr1010109:

Haha the attorney's name is "B Jay" lmao


[2 Points] nottherealredditacct:

Trappy has no choice but to roll over and get tickled. The US Justice system is weird in the way it works, and getting reduced sentences. You have to snitch to get a lower amount of time, or thats how it's portrayed to you.

24yr old, looking at 15-20 in some max security prison, with actual real criminals. He'd be eaten alive, or he'd be eating some dick. Didn't know trappy, nor had any interaction with him, but he was clearly an odd individual, who believed he was above the law, and certainly above many users of reddit.

With trappy in hand, and the server seizures, and whatever other information they have already garnered, this will only lead to more arrests. I've never understood the fascination with vendors posting regularly on reddit, almost taunting the Po Po.

Personally, if I was a vendor, then I wouldn't be active on reddit or any other forum. Separate the 2 identities completely, and let your product do the talking.


[-1 Points] SexyAngelica:

Son of a snitch?!