From diplomat to dark web kingpin—The double life and judicial turning point of 24-year-old Lin Ruixiang

A 24-year-old Taiwanese man, Lin Ruisang, was once an inconspicuous civil servant. He possesses technical expertise and was recruited by the International Cooperation and Development Fund to serve as a diplomatic substitute in Saint Lucia, a Caribbean ally nation. However, behind this respectable job lies an astonishing dark web empire—under the alias “Pharoah,” Lin Ruisang secretly led a cryptocurrency crime network involved in drug trafficking exceeding $100 million USD. Now, this young man, whose identity is the complete opposite of his previous image, faces serious federal charges in the United States, including conspiracy to distribute drugs via dark web platforms, massive money laundering, and sale of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

Dark Web Empire and Cryptocurrency Money Laundering

According to the indictment by U.S. prosecutors, Lin Ruisang began secretly building and operating a dark web drug marketplace called “Incognito Market” while studying at National Taiwan University. This black market officially launched in October 2020 and remained operational until March 2024, when it was shut down. Over the course of more than three years, Lin Ruisang facilitated cryptocurrency drug transactions totaling over $100 million USD, earning a 5% commission on each trade, with illegal profits reaching several million dollars.

Such a large-scale criminal operation requires a complex money flow system. According to investigation evidence, Lin Ruisang held various crypto assets valued at approximately $2.7 million USD, including Bitcoin, USDT, Binance Coin (BNB), ApeCoin (APE), and Solana (SOL). These assets have been identified as criminal proceeds and have been seized. Additionally, he deposited large sums of cash into Taiwanese banks—from October 2020 until his arrest in May 2024—accumulating NT$140 million, with over NT$70 million transferred into U.S. dollar accounts, and nearly NT$40 million transferred to his mother’s accounts.

Judicial Cooperation and Plea Bargaining

On May 19, 2024, the young Lin Ruisang was arrested while transiting through New York. This moment drastically changed his life trajectory. Facing charges from U.S. prosecutors for being the mastermind behind dark web drug trafficking—an offense carrying a minimum sentence of life imprisonment—Lin Ruisang quickly decided to cooperate. Reports indicate he has agreed to provide information on four co-conspirators and the flow of drug funds, attempting to secure a reduced sentence through judicial cooperation.

The charges against Lin Ruisang are quite severe. The “leader” charge is specifically aimed at drug trafficking organization leaders, with mandatory life imprisonment. This charge was previously used to prosecute the founder of Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht, who was ultimately sentenced to life. Conspiracy to distribute drugs can also carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, with at least 10 years; the other two charges together carry a maximum of 25 years. In response to this major case, the New York court unusually postponed the original sentencing scheduled for March to a later date, giving prosecutors more time to apprehend other fugitives. If Lin Ruisang’s disclosures help the FBI arrest other co-conspirators, he will receive a substantial reduction in his sentence.

Asset Seizure and Identity Exposure

Once arrested, Lin Ruisang’s hidden assets were immediately frozen. Taiwanese authorities seized over NT$200 million worth of real estate and large sums of cash. Most notably, a luxury residence—just two months before his arrest, he spent NT$60 million to purchase a high-end home on De Ren East Road, Tianmu, Taipei, in his own name. This sudden and substantial expenditure has now become a key piece of evidence linking him to the crime.

Ironically, Lin Ruisang, who once served as an IT expert, hosted a four-day “Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency Workshop” for 30 police officers at the police academy in Saint Lucia. He lectured law enforcement on how to prevent cybercrimes while secretly operating one of the world’s largest crypto drug markets. This bizarre double life is arguably one of the most shocking identity contrasts in contemporary cybercrime.

Originally, Lin Ruisang was scheduled to complete his diplomatic service in July 2024, but he took leave and returned to Asia, where he was arrested in New York. His civil service career has now come to an end. At only 24 years old, Lin Ruisang is gambling his entire future on judicial negotiations with U.S. authorities—he must expose his co-conspirators to seek leniency, or face the reality of life imprisonment with no escape.