Dark Web Drug Dealers Ran Prolific Operation Through LA County Mailboxes: DOJ

The last of four men convicted of running "one of the most prolific" drug-selling operations on the dark web has been sentenced.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Four men from the Los Angeles area were convicted of running a major drug-selling operation on the dark web, using the U.S. Postal Service to ship meth, cocaine, MDMA and ketamine to customers across the country in exchange for cryptocurrency. The last of the four defendants, Davit Avalyan, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of dark web drug trafficking and the use of the postal system to distribute illegal substances. It also underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in combating sophisticated online drug operations that leverage cryptocurrency and the anonymity of the dark web.

The details

The four men - Davit Avalyan, Hrant Gevorgyan, Hayk Grigoryan, and Gurgen Nersesyan - operated vendor accounts under names like "JoyInc" on dark web drug marketplaces, selling large quantities of meth, cocaine, MDMA and ketamine to customers across the U.S. After customers placed orders online, the men would ship the drugs from LA County to locations nationwide using the U.S. Postal Service. Avalyan would obtain tracking labels and purchase bulk postage to facilitate the shipments. The operation was under investigation since 2018 when an undercover FBI agent successfully purchased cocaine from the vendor account.

  • In November 2018, an undercover FBI agent purchased 2 grams of cocaine from the men's vendor account.
  • Over the following years, federal authorities made many other similar purchases as part of the investigation.
  • The men were arrested last year after the multi-year investigation.
  • On Tuesday, Davit Avalyan was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for his role in the operation.

The players

Davit Avalyan

A 36-year-old Glendale resident who was the last of the four defendants to be sentenced, receiving 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA.

Hrant Gevorgyan

A 36-year-old Glendale resident who was one of the four defendants convicted in the case and has been sentenced to between 2-10 years in prison.

Hayk Grigoryan

Also known as "Hayk Greg", a 36-year-old Glendale resident who was one of the four defendants convicted and sentenced to between 2-10 years in prison.

Gurgen Nersesyan

Also known as "Guro Tiko", a 44-year-old Sherman Oaks resident who was one of the four defendants convicted and sentenced to between 2-10 years in prison.

FBI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the multi-year investigation that led to the arrests and convictions of the four men.

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What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Davit Avalyan to be released on bail while he appeals his sentence.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing threat of sophisticated dark web drug operations that leverage the anonymity of cryptocurrency and the postal system to distribute illegal substances across the country. It underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating these complex online drug trafficking networks.