Dark Web Vendor Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison for Narcotics Trafficking and Money Laundering Charges

Adam Lemar Miles, a/k/a “NoStress,” 46, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Ursula M. Ungaro to a total of 108 months in prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release. 

Benjamin G. Greenberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Adolphus P. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Office; Michael J. De Palma, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); Antonio J. Gomez, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Field Office; Mark Selby, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office; Ari C. Shapira, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office; and Robert F. Lasky, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Miles previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846; three counts of distribution of a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(l); and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h). As part of his plea agreement, Miles agreed to forfeit a shotgun, a rifle, two pistols, a revolver, several hundred rounds of ammunition, and $61,872 in seized U.S. currency.

According to publicly filed court documents, agents were investigating vendors who utilize Dark Web marketplaces to advertise and distribute controlled substances.  Agents identified a vendor with variations of the moniker “NoStress” who was advertising controlled substances, including methamphetamine and hydrocodone, on dark web marketplaces. On three separate occasions, agents purchased and received 7 grams of methamphetamine, 11 hydrocodone pills, and 14 grams of crystal methamphetamine from vendor accounts operated by Miles on the dark web.

On January 10, 2018, a search warrant was executed on Miles’ home in Riverside, California.  Evidence recovered from Miles’ home exposed the defendant as the vendor known as “NoStress.”  Additional evidence revealed Miles had distributed at least 350 grams of methamphetamine on the dark web, since 2015.

This case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate, and prosecute members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.

Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the DEA, Miami and Riverside, California Field Offices; IRS-CI, Miami Field Office; USPIS, Miami Field Office; ICE-HSI, Miami Field Office; ATF, Miami and Riverside, California Field Offices; and the FBI, Miami Field Office.  Mr. Greenberg also thanked the staff of the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for their assistance.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Breezye Telfair.