Manhattan Prosecutors Sentenced Dark Web Drug Trafficker
In a significant ruling, Manhattan prosecutors announced the sentencing of the leader of a major dark web drug trafficking ring. Nan Wu, a 39-year-old from Queens, was given a prison term of six and a half years after admitting to running an extensive illegal marketplace called FireBunnyUSA, which distributed over 10,000 packages of drugs, including cocaine and MDMA, across all 50 states.
From January 2019 until August 2022, Wu collaborated with accomplices—Peng Peng Tan, Bowen Chen, Zixian Lin, and Katie Montgomery—to launder more than $7.9 million through various dark web platforms, prosecutors stated.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg remarked that dismantling this illegal operation showcases the effectiveness of law enforcement in tracking cryptocurrency and revealing activities on the dark web.
As part of a plea agreement, Wu, who was already in federal custody due to an unrelated matter, consented to forfeit 20 Bitcoins, 3,297 Monero coins, and about $12,857 in cash seized during the investigation. He appeared before Judge Michelle Rodney after pleading guilty in April to charges involving the illegal sale of controlled substances and money laundering.
Initially operating from Flushing, Wu relocated his business to Upland, California, in April 2022. Investigators reported making 11 separate purchases of drugs—including cocaine, MDMA, and ketamine—that were sent to Manhattan addresses.
Following his arrest in June 2022, authorities discovered considerable quantities of drugs: one kilogram of ketamine, over 1,200 MDMA pills, and additional drug supplies.
In addition to Wu, four other co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are now awaiting their sentences.
Bragg emphasized the commitment to dismantling criminal organizations, stating, “Whether on the dark web or on our streets, we will root out those that threaten our communities.” Wu is also facing sentencing on a federal charge related to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, with federal prosecutors suggesting a prison term of six to eight years. His attorney, Barry Zorn, indicated that he expects the sentences to run concurrently.
