'One Of The Most Prolific' Meth, Coke Darknet Operations Ever Is Busted In LA: FBI

LOS ANGELES, CA — Four men face federal charges after being arrested on suspicion of running an illegal drug marketplace on the dark web, the United States Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

Gurgen Nersesyan, 43, of Sherman Oaks, and Glendale residents Davit Avalyan, 35, Hrant Geovrgyan, 35, and Hayk Grigoryan, 35, each face one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA (Ecstasy).

The four men are accused of operating their online drug distribution network in exchange for cryptocurrency from September 2018 through February 2025 — using various vendor names, including JoyInc, LaFarmacia, WhiteDoc, and JanesAddiction, according to federal prosecutors.

"JoyInc is believed to have been operating since at least 2018 and is one of the most prolific methamphetamine and cocaine distributors to ever operate on the Darknet," federal prosecutors said in a statement Thursday.

They then shipped the drugs from Los Angeles County throughout the country using the United States Postal Service, according to federal prosecutors.

In addition to the arrests, authorities served multiple federal search warrants Wednesday in connection to the defendants and found evidence, including large amounts of cash and drugs, according to federal prosecutors.

Avalyan faces additional charges of distribution of cocaine, distribution of MDMA and distribution of methamphetamine; Gevorgyan of possession with intent to distribute MDMA and possession with intent to distribute ketamine; Grigoryan of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to federal prosecutors.

Nersesyan, meanwhile, has also been charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute MDMA, federal prosecutors said.

They've each pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to federal prosecutors.

If convicted, all four defendants could be sentenced to life in federal prison, according to federal prosecutors.