Opinion ID: 4580906
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Factual Proffer

Text: According to the agreed-to factual proffer presented at Decker’s change of plea hearing, the federal charges against him arose from a Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) investigation into a narcotics vendor, known as “DigitalPossi2014,” who had been illegally selling narcotics online using the services of several dark web internet marketplaces. The factual proffer explained that “[d]ark [w]eb marketplace[s] allow vend[o]rs, in conspiracy with the unknown marketplace administrators, to distribute controlled substances anonymously online and launder the proceeds through a series of complex bitcoin transaction[s] designed to conceal the nature, source, and control of the funds.” The proffer explained that in order to investigate DigitalPossi2014, DEA agents working undercover bought hydrocodone and hydromorphone pills from DigitalPossi2014 online and received the purchased narcotics by U.S. Mail at mailboxes in the Southern District of Florida. The drugs were purchased online from Nucleus Market, Dream Market, and AlphaBay Market, all anonymous dark web internet marketplaces, using bitcoin to pay for the drugs. In the factual proffer, Decker admitted that DigitalPossi2014 had “conducted thousands of transactions on numerous Dark Web marketplaces” selling prescription opiate pills. He further admitted that DigitalPossi2014 had conducted 10,738 transactions on Alphabay Market selling opiate pills including hydrocodone, oxycodone, OxyContin, 4 USCA11 Case: 17-15007 Date Filed: 10/27/2020 Page: 5 of 20 Percocet, hydromorphone, and morphine. Decker also admitted in the factual proffer that DigitalPossi2014 had placed an advertisement in a medical marijuana marketplace and provided his cellphone number. The advertisement stated, “I’m on the dark web and I sell a lot on there,” noting “I have nothing but great reviews.” The DEA tracked the telephone number listed in the advertisement to Decker’s address in Detroit, Michigan, and traced the packages of controlled substances they had received from DigitalPossi2014 to a post office box issued to Decker. Cars registered to Decker and his wife were in the driveway at Decker’s Detroit address, and a review of Decker’s finances revealed that Decker had spent over $15,000 on www.stamps.com and at the United States Post Office since March 2014. Decker’s financial records also showed that Decker had a bitcoin account with Coinbase, a bitcoin wallet host and exchanger, under the name DigitalPossi2014. The factual proffer explained that “[a] preliminary analysis of the bitcoin block chain revealed that the majority of Decker’s incoming bitcoin transactions in his Coinbase account originated from dark net markets such as Agora Marketplace, Nucleus Market, and Evolution Marketplace.” The investigation also revealed that Decker used LocalBitcoins, a bitcoin exchange often used by dark web members, to anonymously exchange his bitcoin drug proceeds for fiat currency. 5 USCA11 Case: 17-15007 Date Filed: 10/27/2020 Page: 6 of 20 The factual proffer further noted that Decker used the name “digitally possible” on public social media, and his e-mail address was “digitalpossi2014@yahoo.com.” A search warrant executed at Decker’s Detroit residence revealed mail packing materials and shipping labels with the P.O. Box number on the return label and handwritten notes containing drug quantities. The agents also seized Decker’s computers and cell phones.