Seven individuals from Georgia have been indicted on charges of conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine through a dark web marketplace. The defendants allegedly used the vendor account “WallStreetBets” to ship thousands of parcels containing illegal substances across the United States, including the Middle District of Georgia.
The individuals charged are Steven Ehizojie Oboite, 32, from Conyers; Eric Xavier Bechet, 31, from Dunwoody; Jabari Ayinde Cooper, 29, from Atlanta; Rashad Cortese Kinloch, 28, from Dunwoody; Myron Ned Stodghill, 31, from Fairburn; Reginald Tyrone Douglas, 31, from Dunwoody; and Joshua Jamal Charles, 25, from Atlanta. They face one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
Stodghill and Cooper were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Weigle on June 18. The other defendants had their hearings between May 22 and June 12. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on May 14 and unsealed on May 19. All but two defendants were remanded to federal custody.
Search warrants executed on May 19 led to the seizure of approximately five kilograms of fentanyl-based powder, one kilogram of cocaine, six firearms, marijuana weighing several pounds, around 200 pills, two cryptocurrency wallets among other items.
The indictment claims that Oboite and Bechet controlled WallStreetBets accounts across various dark web markets such as Darkode Market. It is alleged they distributed large quantities of drugs starting before March 2021 by shipping parcels nationwide. The packages shared common features like padded envelopes with prepaid labels bought using cryptocurrency.
Oboite and Bechet allegedly obtained drugs for WallStreetBets through sources including Stodghill while directing others like Cooper and Kinloch to handle packaging and shipping via USPS.
The FBI Atlanta Field Office encourages anyone with information about this case or related overdoses to contact them at 770-216-3000.
This investigation involves multiple agencies including the FBI’s Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) operation which combines efforts from organizations like DEA and Homeland Security Investigations among others.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Peach is handling prosecution for this case. It’s important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
