A 35-year-old Glendale resident is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday for his role in distributing cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine through hidden online marketplaces.
Davit Avalyan was one of four men arrested last year in Glendale and Sherman Oaks on federal charges accusing them of operating a drug trafficking ring on so-called “darknet” platforms.
In October, Avalyan pleaded guilty in downtown Los Angeles to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Federal prosecutors are seeking a sentence of nearly five years in prison.
The case was part of a federal initiative aimed at shutting down illegal narcotics vendors operating on darknet marketplaces and shipping drugs to buyers across the United States, according to authorities.
Court documents allege that vendors using names such as JoyInc, LaFarmacia, WhiteDoc, and JanesAddiction sold cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA — commonly known as ecstasy or molly — and ketamine in exchange for cryptocurrency.
Prosecutors say the defendants mailed the drugs nationwide using the U.S. Postal Service. Orders were allegedly filled by packaging narcotics into parcels and depositing them at post offices and mailboxes throughout Los Angeles County and other locations.
Authorities believe the vendor “JoyInc” operated for at least seven years and was among the most prolific darknet distributors of methamphetamine and cocaine.
During the arrests, federal agents executed multiple search warrants and seized substantial amounts of cash and suspected narcotics.
The three remaining defendants also pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge and received prison sentences ranging from two to 10 years.
