Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
Matthew Simon Grimm, a 51-year-old citizen of the United Kingdom, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for operating an illegal online drug marketplace that shipped controlled substances into the United States and laundered over $28 million in cryptocurrency. The sentencing, announced by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida, follows Grimm’s guilty plea to charges including conspiracy to import controlled substances, four counts of importation of controlled substances, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Online Drug Operation Dismantled
From 2015 until November 8, 2022, Grimm managed a website that openly offered federally controlled substances for sale. He and his co-conspirators processed orders and then shipped various illicit drugs, including synthetic cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids, and methamphetamine analogues, into the United States.
Records from Grimm’s website indicated that the operation had fulfilled at least 44,000 orders. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Gainesville, Florida, initiated an investigation after ordering multiple controlled substances from the website, which were subsequently shipped to Gainesville.
Cryptocurrency Forfeiture and Co-Conspirator
Grimm received payments for his illicit drug sales in various cryptocurrencies. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to forfeit cryptocurrency valued at over $28 million. This significant forfeiture underscores the financial scale of the criminal enterprise.
Co-defendant Carrie-Ann Tooley, 54, of Northport, Maine, who worked for Grimm, was previously sentenced on April 14, 2025, for her involvement in the conspiracy.
Law Enforcement Collaboration
U.S. Attorney Heekin emphasized the crucial role of collaboration between federal and international law enforcement partners in dismantling the criminal enterprise. Heekin stated that this prosecution represents a step toward fulfilling a promise made by President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to combat drug trafficking.
DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter highlighted the agency’s commitment to pursuing cyber criminals with the same intensity as street-level distributors. Similarly, Bladismir Rojo, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division, affirmed the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s dedication to disrupting transnational drug trafficking organizations that exploit the mail system.
Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno reiterated HSI’s mission to dismantle these networks and protect communities from the devastating impact of controlled substances. He noted that Grimm and his co-conspirators profited from the addiction and destruction caused by these dangerous substances.
Joint Investigation Efforts
The successful prosecution was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Additional assistance was provided by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the United States Marshals Service, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, the United Kingdom Metropolitan Police, and the Netherlands National Police Corps.
Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain, Adam Hapner, and Kaitlin Weiss prosecuted the case, with support from former Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Elsey and David P. Byron.
