Glendale Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Darknet Drug Trafficking

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A federal judge sentenced a 36-year-old Glendale man to over 5 years in prison for his role in a darknet drug trafficking scheme that involved distributing cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and ketamine in exchange for cryptocurrency. Davit Avalyan pleaded guilty in October 2025 to conspiring with three other men to operate several vendor accounts on the darknet, which prosecutors described as "one of the most prolific" operations of its kind.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenge law enforcement faces in combating the rise of darknet drug markets, where criminals can anonymously sell and distribute narcotics across the country. The sentencing of Avalyan and his co-conspirators demonstrates federal authorities' efforts to disrupt these sophisticated online drug trafficking networks.

The details

According to the Department of Justice, Avalyan and his accomplices fulfilled small-scale drug orders by packaging narcotics into parcels and dropping them off at post offices and mailboxes in Los Angeles County and other areas. Avalyan is the last of the four men to be sentenced to federal prison, with the other three co-defendants receiving sentences ranging from 1 to 10 years.

• Avalyan pleaded guilty in October 2025.
• Avalyan was sentenced in February 2026.
• Hayk Grigoryan was sentenced to 10 years in prison last month.
• Gurgen Nersesyan was sentenced to at least 1 year in prison last month.
• Hrant Gevorgyan was sentenced to 2 years in prison earlier in February 2026.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Davit Avalyan out on bail pending his appeal.