Dark Web Dealer ‘MamaKnowsBrown’ Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

On January 22, 2026, 46-year-old Carolyn Tolin, from Long Island, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to charges of criminally possessing controlled substances and attempting to operate an illegal drug trafficking business in Suffolk County Court. The woman had operated a drug distribution centre in her home for illicit drugs on the dark web.

Law enforcement and community officials have expressed concerns regarding the use of technology by Tolin in developing and operating an illegal drug marketing and sales operation over the dark web and cryptocurrency. Prosecutors noted she utilized the pseudonym “MamaKnowsBrown” and received orders and payment through anonymous digital payment transactions.

In addition to the prison term, Tolin will serve five years of post-release supervision after her sentence. Her dark web operation, prosecutors said, “poisoned our community” and exploited technology to sell highly dangerous drugs.

How the Dark Web Drug Ring Worked

The dark web, a website operating in a concealed portion of the internet, is where Tolin appears to have been running her illicit enterprise, requiring specialized software for access and allowing for anonymous monetary exchanges.

Customers of Tolin’s website could browse for different drugs, review products based on feedback left by other users, select their shipping method, and even create their user account.

The only acceptable method of payment for drugs from Tolin’s site was via cryptocurrency, such that both the customers and Tolin could remain anonymous throughout the entire transaction process.

This reliance on cryptocurrency for anonymous illicit financing is a hallmark of dark web activity, from drug markets to major data breach extortion, as seen in the NightSpire attack on a prominent hotel chain.

According to law enforcement officials, Tolin would later convert the cryptocurrency into cash immediately following each transaction, which is a common practice among dark web vendors.

After Tolin received orders from customers, she shipped drugs from California across the country using the United States Postal Service and United Parcel Service, and also used Uber-type services to perform local deliveries to customers within Suffolk County.

Prosecutors stated that Tolin’s business operation utilized both electronic means and conventional shipping methods, making it possible for her to sell and distribute dangerous drugs to people all over the United States.

Law Enforcement Seized Drugs and Evidence

According to records from the court and remarks from the prosecutor, Tolin used a dark web illegal site to carry out her rogue operation. The dark web is a secret area of the internet and requires certain programs to access, which enables people to conduct deals without revealing their identities.

Starting at some point during September 2024 through March 2025, it is charged that Tolin filed approximately $75,000 in narcotics, including fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine.

Officers also seized overdose warning cards they believed Tolin usually placed inside drug packages she ships. These warning labels also instructed customers to be vigilant about using these drugs, to keep Narcotic overdose rescue Devices such as Naloxone or Narcan available during a drug use episode, and to avoid using these drugs in isolation for fear that an overdose could occur. Prosecutors claim she provided these warnings despite having continued to sell the narcotics.

The evidence collected during the investigation was part of the ongoing efforts taken by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Fentanyl Task Force to prosecute those who distribute dangerous drugs, as well as work to reduce the impact of opioid use and addiction.

Broader Risks of Dark Web Drug Sales

Experts claim the threats associated with drug sales on dark web markets extend beyond individual drug dealers/consumers. The underground marketplaces allow users to remain completely anonymous through the use of encrypted communications and payment systems such as cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, etc.).

This anonymity facilitates a wide range of crimes, from narcotics trafficking to massive data breaches, such as the recent exposure of personal data belonging to nearly 240 million Pakistanis on the dark web.

The rise in deaths due to overdose from drugs such as fentanyl (and other synthetic opioids) is alarming, with the CDC stating that Synthetic Opioids account for over 70% of Opioid-Related deaths in America over the last few years. Fentanyl is particularly dangerous, as it is extremely potent and can kill a person regardless of the amount they consume or the time frame between consumption.

Criminals are protected from law enforcement detection for an extended period of time while operating through the dark web to provide illegal narcotics. The investigators also look for information on transactions and build evidence against drug dealers, termed “clouds” in law enforcement.

Felony charges may include drug trafficking, money laundering, and conspiracy charges. The extent of the offence will dictate the felony charges. Additionally, previous years have demonstrated how the law enforcement community addresses narcotic conspiracies through prosecution.

There have been numerous examples of Federal prosecutors charging and sentencing dark web dealers who distributed thousands of doses of heroin and cocaine via the postal service using Bitcoin payments.

Sentencing Sends Warning to Other Dealers

District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney stated in a press release that Tolin had used her determination in criminal ventures but had also caused harm to society by endangering the lives of community members through the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics. He stressed that the sentence reflects not only the seriousness of Ms. Tolin’s offence but also sends a strong message to others involved in drug trafficking via digital means that law enforcement will be aggressive in pursuing such offences.

The 15-year prison sentence (plus future supervision) represents one of the highest state sentences this year for the distribution of drugs via the Dark Web in New York State. And it demonstrates an attempt by cooperating agencies and their investigators to deter this type of behavior through the use of technology and illicit drug sales.