Colorado Man Sentenced to 11 Years for AlphaBay Moderation

FRESNO, Calif. — In a landmark sentencing, Bryan Connor Herrell, 26, from Aurora, Colorado, was today locked up for 11 years by United States District Court Judge Dale A. Drozd. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Herrell was a moderator on AlphaBay, the once-vast online marketplace for illegal goods that reigned supreme in the darknet realm. On AlphaBay, vendors and buyers swapped everything from drugs to stolen identities, all within the shadowy confines of the web’s deepest corners. Rabbitt emphasized the global cooperation behind Herrell’s capture, noting the relentless pursuit of Dark Web criminals.

U.S. Attorney Scott underscored that technology cannot shield criminals from justice, warning of the consequences for those who engage in illegal activities online. The FBI’s Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan praised cyber investigators for their work dismantling criminal organizations and emphasized that Herrell’s sentence serves as a stark reminder of the darknet’s lack of safety.

Herrell, also known as “Penissmith” and “Botah,” was compensated in Bitcoin for his role. His responsibilities included resolving disputes between vendors and buyers and monitoring fraudulent activities on the platform. The investigation that led to Herrell’s arrest stemmed from a joint FBI effort with international partners, notably the Royal Thai Police, who apprehended the alleged founder of AlphaBay, Alexandre Cazes, in Bangkok.

Caes’s laptop was left open during his capture, revealing several text files containing passwords and passkeys associated with AlphaBay. Despite Caes’s death, the investigation into AlphaBay continues. The case against Herrell was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul Hemesath, Grant B. Rabenn, and Senior Counsel Louisa K. Marion, with substantial assistance from the Philadelphia and Denver U.S. Attorney’s Offices.

This sentence is a clear testament to the ongoing fight against darknet crime, demonstrating that even those who think they operate safely in the shadows of the web are not immune to justice.

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