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ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A Phoenix, Arizona, couple pleaded guilty as we speak to conspiring to distribute a number of managed substances including heroin, methamphetamine, mega darknet market and para-fluorofentanyl over the darknet.

In accordance with courtroom documents, from approximately January 2021 by way of May 2023, Cheerish Noel Taylor, 36, and Robert James Fischer, 35, ran the darknet monikers "SafeServe," "Sky_High," and others across multiple darknet markets. On these markets, the co-conspirators advertised and bought various controlled substances, including crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, Xanax, Adderall, suboxone, and counterfeit pills that the conspirators advertised as oxycodone but that as an alternative were laced with para-fluorofentanyl, a dangerous fentanyl analogue. During the course of the conspiracy, the conspirators made over 1,100 gross sales of controlled substances over the darknet utilizing these accounts.

The darknet, also known as the darkweb, is a portion of the Internet that hosts darknet markets, or hidden business websites. A darknet market operates as a black market, promoting or brokering transactions involving authorized products, in addition to drugs, weapons, counterfeit currency, stolen bank card particulars, solid documents, unlicensed pharmaceuticals, steroids, and other illicit items.

Fischer and Taylor bought counterfeit oxycodone pills, which they marketed as "pressed m30s" and "blues," realizing that they didn't comprise oxycodone, and as an alternative contained fentanyl or a fentanyl analogue. Within the product description for the purported "blues," the defendant’s darknet vendor page on the positioning ASAP Market said that "These should not reg M30s they are PRESSED and are very robust…seasoned users solely please." In one other listing for the purported "blues," the defendants advertised "small superb print: these usually are not from a pharmacy they are PRESSED from Mexico. Seasoned customers Only because these are sturdy AF not for those who are freshly using."

Fischer and Taylor bought other medication on the darknet that they advertised as being authentic, pharmaceutically, produced medication. For example, the two sold what they described as "pharmaceutical Adderall’ for over $13 per pill.

The 2 shipped controlled substances nationwide by means of the United States Postal Service, and tried to disguise the managed substances inside packages amidst dollar-retailer items, reminiscent of children’s stickers, beads, birthday cards, and seasonal gift objects. At instances, the controlled substances have been hidden inside of toy packaging.

Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8. She faces a necessary minimal penalty of 10 years in prison. Fischer is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2024. He additionally faces a mandatory minimal penalty of 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are sometimes less than the utmost penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and different statutory elements.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in control of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector answerable for the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis III accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Call is prosecuting the case.

A duplicate of this press release is situated on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court docket documents and information are situated on the web site of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by trying to find Case No.