Helena Man Sentenced for Dark Web Fentanyl Trafficking

Fentanyl Trafficking Lands Helena Man 15-Month Prison Sentence

A Helena man who admitted buying fentanyl on the dark web using cryptocurrency and distributing some of it has been sentenced to 15 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Jarek William Hahn, 30, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the sentencing hearing on May 13. The government alleged in court documents that between December 2022 and December 2023, Hahn obtained fentanyl in the mail after arranging its purchase on illicit internet sites on the dark web.

Hahn used sophisticated means to seek out illicit sites on the internet’s dark web, which are unindexed sites on the internet that require special internet browsers to access. He then accessed a site where he purchased fentanyl using cryptocurrency and had it delivered in the mail. In a search of Hahn’s home, law enforcement recovered 64 fentanyl pills.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The FBI, Missouri River Drug Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation.

U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said, “This case highlights the dangers of the dark web and the risks associated with purchasing illicit substances online.” The case serves as a reminder that law enforcement is working tirelessly to combat the opioid epidemic and hold those accountable who engage in illicit activity.

Hahn’s sentence is a result of his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. His sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release, during which time he will be subject to strict conditions and monitoring.