Hitmen On The Dark Web Paid $60,000 BTC To Kidnap Estranged Wife

Key Points:

• Ronald Craig Ilg, 56, of Spokane, Washington, received a 96-month prison term for financing hitmen on the dark web more than $60,000 in Bitcoin (BTC).
• This initial plan led to Ilg paying more than $2,000 in BTC, after which he provided the hitmen with a link to the victim’s picture, their address and other personal details that would assist in the crime, court records show. 
• It’s not the first time that BTC has been used to try and finance illegal activities. Late last year, the DOJ released another news release saying they had taken possession of James Zhong’s record $3.36 billion worth of cryptocurrencies connected to the Silk Road dark web network.

Ronald Craig Ilg, 56, of Spokane, Washington, received a 96-month prison term for financing hitmen on the dark web more than $60,000 in Bitcoin (BTC).

Ilg paid the hitmen through an online system in which he enlisted the services of well-known hitmen. The hitmen attempted to kidnap and abuse numerous individuals, including his ex-wife.

Beginning in early 2021, court records found that Ilg — who had been working as a neonatologist — transmitted dozens of messages under the alias “Scar215” and sent more than $60,000  BTC to advance his nefarious plot. 

During this time, Ilg directed the purported hitmen to assault another Spokane-area doctor — specifying that the victim:

“Should be given a significant beating that is obvious. It should injure both hands significantly or break the hands.”

This initial plan led to Ilg paying more than $2,000 in BTC, after which he provided the hitmen with a link to the victim’s picture, their address and other personal details that would assist in the crime, court records show. 

In a series of follow-up messages, Ilg added, “I would like to see evidence that it happened. If this goes well, I have another, more complicated job” for a “different target with entirely different objectives.”

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, Vanessa R. Waldref said:

“This case demonstrates how violent offenders exploit cyberspace and cryptocurrency to further their criminal agendas.”

Bitcoin and the dark web

It’s not the first time that BTC has been used to try and finance illegal activities. Late last year, the DOJ released another news release saying they had taken possession of James Zhong’s record $3.36 billion worth of cryptocurrencies connected to the Silk Road dark web network.

Ross William Ulbricht, the 38-year-old founder of Silk Road, is presently serving a life term without the chance of parole for his part in running the secret business over the Tor network. The facilitation of the selling of unlawful goods and services, such as the alleged scheme to hire hitmen using cryptocurrency under the moniker “Dread Pirate Roberts,” was among these things.

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