They called themselves “Riccan’d Morty Shoppe” online and shipped the stuffed animals across the country, but federal agents said the suspects behind the darknet business were packing methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. The company claims that the company was shipping toys that were made in Japan.
On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Jerrell Eugene Anderson, 34, of Santa Clarita and the ring’s alleged leader, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for the scheme.
Prosecutors allege Anderson and his co-conspirators used darknet markets to sell drugs and ship stuffed animals through U.S. post offices. The darknet is a part of the Internet that can only be accessed through special software.
Prosecutors say the organization advertised its illegal businesses on the darknet with nicknames such as “Pharmacy Apothecary” and “Rickand Morty Shop,” after popular adult cartoons.
The group used stash locations in the San Fernando Valley to deliver drugs hidden in stuffed animals.
This system was in place from at least July 2018 to March 2019.
In August 2018, one of those packages was delivered to a customer in Knoxville, Tennessee, who died after using heroin, prosecutors allege.
Anderson pleaded guilty in June to charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Other defendants under investigation include Christopher Canyon von Holton, 37. Kenneth Lashawn Hadley, 37 years old. Adan Sepulveda. Jackie Walter Burns and Jackie Walter Burns each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
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