The mastermind behind one of the largest-ever dark web drug-trafficking operations was sent to prison Thursday — after he raked in $7.2 million through cryptocurrency exchanges, Manhattan prosecutors said.
Queens native Nan Wu, 39, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years behind bars after he admitted to running the massive illicit marketplace — dubbed “FireBunnyUSA” that shipped out more than 10,000 packages of cocaine, MDMA, Ketamine and other drugs to customers in all 50 US states.
Nan Wu was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison on Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court. Steven Hirsch
Prosecutors have said Nan Wu was the mastermind behind a dark web drug-trafficking operation that shipped 10,000 packages of cocaine, MDMA, Ketamine and other drugs to customers in all 50 states in the US. Steven Hirsch
Wu worked together with four accomplices — Peng Peng Tang, Bowen Chen, Zixiang Lin and Katie Montgomery — between January 2019 to August 2022 and laundered more than $7.9 million through multiple dark web vendors, prosecutors have said.
“The dismantling of this illegal drug trafficking operation highlights the ability of my office’s prosecutors and analysts to trace cryptocurrency and unmask those committing crimes on the dark web,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
As part of a plea agreement, Wu, who was in federal custody in a separate case, agreed to hand over 20 bitcoin, 3297 Monero and $12,857 in cash that was recovered during the investigation.
He appeared for his sentencing hearing before Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Michele Rodney — after he pleaded guilty to the criminal sale of a controlled substance and money laundering charges in April.
His scheme — originally based in Flushing — shipped out more than 10,000 packages across the country before Wu moved the operation to Upland, Calif., in April 2022.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is seen leaving the courtroom following Nan Wu’s sentencing. Steven Hirsch
Prosecutors have said that investigators made 11 purchases from the group, which included cocaine, MDMA and Ketamine, that were shipped into Manhattan.
After his June 2022 arrest, law enforcement found one kilogram of Ketamine, more than 1,200 MDMA pills, one half kilogram of MDMA in rock form and other drugs and shipping supplies.
The four other defendants have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
“Whether on the dark web or on our city’s streets, we will root out criminal organizations who put our community’s health at risk,” Bragg said.
Wu was still awaiting sentencing in his federal case after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance on June 11.
Federal prosecutors have recommended a sentence between 6 to 8 years behind bars.
His attorney, Barry Zone, said he expects both sentences to run at the same time.