A Tacoma man was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison for dealing drugs on the dark web, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In a news release, the office said 31-year-old Travis Phillips was caught with more than 8,600 tabs of MDMA and guns.
In April 2017, he Dutch National Police alerted U.S. authorities of a shipment of 7,000 tablets of MDMA headed to a private mail facility in Renton. Authorities took the drugs and left the box.
On May 2, 2017, Phillips went to pick up the package and had a child in the his car. Investigators followed Phillips to his home and detained him.
After searching Phillips' car and home, investigators seized MDMA powder, 155 hits of LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, fake ID and a semi-automatic handgun and a rifle, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
“Every time that you sold MDMA, that could be the start of a downward cycle for a young person,” said U.S. District Judge Richard Jones. “When you have firearms and drugs, the reason is you are fearful someone will come after you.”
In 2016, Phillips was also investigated for internet drug dealing in California. He pleaded guilty in May 2018.
“Drug dealing on the dark web is the new drug dealing frontier,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “Those too frightened to make a face-to-face purchase may feel emboldened to purchase via the web, expanding the circle of those who fall prey to the scourge of drug addiction. Dark web drug dealers should know they are not safe – they will be found and held to account just like anyone else peddling dangerous drugs in our communities.”
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