ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man was arrested today on
charges related to his alleged unlawful distribution of medications through the
Darknet, and money laundering involving Bitcoin.
According to court documents, William Anderson Burgamy IV,
32, of Hanover, recently posted on his Darknet market vendor page: “Even with
Corona Virus [sic] the shop is running at full speed.”
“I want to offer thanks and praise to our local law
enforcement partners for moving forward with this public safety investigation
amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for
the Eastern District of Virginia. “The selflessness and bravery being exercised
by our law enforcement partners every day, but especially now, deserves broad
public recognition and thanks.”
Burgamy, who is not a pharmacist, has allegedly illegally
operated as the Darknet vendor NeverPressedRX (NPRX) since at least August
2019. The NPRX vendor store claimed to sell authentic medications, including
prescription opioids, sourced from United States pharmacies. NPRX had thousands
of recorded sales on a major Darknet market. Burgamy allegedly laundered the
proceeds of his criminal activity by cashing out his Bitcoin cryptocurrency
drug payments into United States dollars and moving the funds through a variety
of accounts, including his business bank accounts, in an effort to conceal and
disguise the nature and source of his illicit proceeds.
According to court documents, law enforcement, in
coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, conducted online undercover
operations targeting NPRX. Since January, undercover federal agents made
numerous purchases of medications, including prescription opioids, from
Burgamy’s NPRX Darknet account. After identifying Burgamy, investigators
surveilled him as he conducted numerous trips to local post offices, where he
allegedly mailed prescription drugs to various Darknet buyers, including to the
undercover federal agents in the Eastern District of Virginia.
During the execution of a search warrant inside Burgamy’s
residence, law enforcement discovered what appeared to be thousands of
prescription opioid pills and at least eight firearms, including two loaded
AR-15 assault rifles.
Burgamy is charged with distribution of controlled
substances and money laundering, and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in
prison if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less
than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any
sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other
statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern
District of Virginia; Kevin Vorndran, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the
FBI's Washington Field Criminal Division; Mark S. McCormack, Special Agent in
Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office;
Peter R. Rendina, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S.
Postal Inspection Service; Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the DrugEnforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, made the
announcement. The FBI's Baltimore Field Office and the Anne Arundel County
Police Department assisted in executing the arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj
Parekh is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of
the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court
documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for
the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No.
1:20-mj-130.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant
is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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