[B]URLINGTON — Two cousins from northern Vermont snared in the first nationwide undercover law enforcement probe of illegal activity on the dark web have been sentenced on drug-dealing charges, one heading to prison for five years and the other receiving probation.
Sam Bent, 33, and his cousin Djeneba Bent, 27, both of St. Johnsbury and formerly of East Burke, were two Vermonters caught up in the federal investigation that led to arrest and prosecution in the spring and summer of 2018 of more than 35 people for dark web activities.
Sam Bent, described by federal prosecutors as a drug dealer out for profit on the far-reaches of the internet, was sentenced Friday in federal court in Burlington to five years in prison. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of $14,000 in illegal drug proceeds to the federal government.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering between August 2017 and early 2018.
The operation, according to prosecutors, started with marijuana and hashish sales and then moved into other drugs, such as LSD, MDMA and cocaine.
“It was increasing in seriousness as time went on,” Judge Geoffrey Crawford said as he sentenced Sam Bent. “It was very fortunate the agents, through this sting operation, were able to catch you.”
Djeneba Bent, who allegedly shipped her cousin’s drug packages to customers, was also sentenced Friday in the same courtroom to three years of probation.
She had earlier pleaded to a charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher, who prosecuted both cases, argued in court and in filings, that the dark web drug activities brought to light in the case reveal a new frontier in the narcotics trafficking world.
“(Sam) Bent’s operation represents the new drug dealing paradigm,” Drescher wrote in a motion seeking a nine-year prison term for him.
“His methods were secure, discreet, and difficult to detect,” the prosecutor added. “His methods — selling to customers hundreds and thousands of miles away — insured he distanced himself from the societal costs of his operation.”
The prosecutor described Sam Bent’s operation as “sophisticated,” involving hundreds of drug transactions to customers he never met.
The charging documents stated the operation involved establishing accounts on dark web marketplaces, setting up anonymous online identifies, accepting bitcoin in exchange for online drug sales, and mailing illegal drugs.
The dark web is a term used to describe parts of the internet accessed through encrypted means. This large zone of the Internet, inaccessible through Google and other search engines, can be accessed anonymously and has become a haven for criminals who have created marketplaces of illegal activities, from drug traffickers, to credit card thieves and child pornography purveyors.
The dark web also has non-nefarious purposes, such as allowing people in certain countries an anonymous outlet to speak out against human rights abuses.
Sam Bent, according to court documents, purchased the drugs online in order to repackage and resell the illicit goods. And it was Djeneba Bent, court filings stated, who acquired U.S. Postal Service shipping envelopes and boxes for use in distributing the drugs.
Djenena Bent then mailed the drugs from post offices in northern Vermont and New Hampshire, according to court documents.
Drescher said Sam Bent converted his bitcoin drug proceeds by using a dark-web bitcoin exchanger, which charged a higher commissions than legitimate bitcoin exchangers, but doesn’t ask questions.
It was through one of those exchanges the drug scheme began to unravel.
“Except for Homeland Security Investigation’s use of an undercover bitcoin exchange — that Bent had the misfortune to utilize,” the prosecutor added, “he would likely still be distributing controlled substances across the country from his computer in his East Burke, Vermont, residence.”
Stephanie Greenlees, Sam Bent’s attorney, had argued for a lesser prison term of four years for her client. She talked about her client’s difficult childhood, and how he turned to dark-web drug operation when he fell on hard times after breaking up with a girlfriend.
Sam Bent also addressed the judge, apologizing for his actions and saying that he understood he deserved punishment for his actions.
“It was a foolish thing to do,” Bent said to the judge.
Bent said he planned to make productive use of his time behind bars, hoping to earn a business degree and put his computer skills to use making money through legal means.
Drescher, in arguing for the harsher nine-year prison term for Sam Bent, said a sentence in the case should also send a message to deter others from committing similar acts.
The judge agreed that some measure of deterrence was warranted as part of the sentence, but settled on a five-year prison term rather than the nine requested by the prosecution, or four by the defense.
David McColgin, a federal public defender representing Djeneba Bent, argued for a sentence with no prison time for his client, citing a difficult childhood and her strong relationship with her cousin, who she saw as her best friend.
McColgin told the judge that Djeneba Bent “simply followed directions from Sam Bent” and had been taken advantage of by her cousin.
Djeneba Bent, the defense attorney said, had “completely” turned her life around since her arrest in the spring of 2018, finding stable work and a healthy relationship.
“This is somebody who I would say has zero chance of recidivism,” McColgin told the judge. “There is absolutely no reason to put her prison.”
Djeneba Bent also spoke, telling the judge she was sorry for her actions and asking for a sentence that would not put her behind bars.
“I would love to go back to work Monday morning,” she said.
Drescher, the prosecutor, did not call on the judge to impose a specific sentence for Djeneba Bent. Instead, he told Crawford, the sentence imposed should be “fair.”
As Crawford handed down the probationary sentence, he spoke of the work Djeneba Bent had done since her arrest to stay out of trouble and improve her life. Crawford added he was confident she would continue on that path.
“Ms. Bent,” the judge said to her, “do good.”
“Thank you, your honor,” Djeneba Bent replied.
Crawford also had parting words for Sam Bent after imposing his five-year prison term.
The judge told him, “I look forward to welcoming you back to the community when you have finished your sentence.”
