Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Matthew Simon Grimm, a 51-year-old citizen of the United Kingdom, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in operating an illegal online drug market that shipped controlled substances into the United States. The sentencing was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
According to prosecutors, Grimm ran a website from 2015 until November 2022 that sold federally controlled substances, including synthetic cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids, and analogues of methamphetamine. Records indicate that at least 44,000 orders were shipped from the site. Payments were made using various cryptocurrencies.
Grimm pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance into the United States, four counts of importation of a controlled substance into the United States, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to forfeit more than $28 million in cryptocurrency proceeds.
John P. Heekin stated: “Dismantling this criminal enterprise required close collaboration between our federal and international law enforcement partners, and I am incredibly proud of the successful prosecution of this offender by my office. This is yet another step toward fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the drug traffickers flooding our communities with poison, and this substantial forfeiture of the criminally obtained proceeds of this drug distribution operation resoundingly confirms that my office will ensure that offenders cannot profit from their crimes.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Gainesville began investigating Grimm after ordering multiple controlled substances from his website that were shipped to Gainesville. The investigation also involved Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and received support from several other agencies including U.S. Customs Enforcement’s HSI, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Marshals Service, as well as law enforcement agencies in the UK and Netherlands.
Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of DEA Miami Field Division commented: “Technology brings more ways for criminals to flood our streets with poison. DEA pursues cyber criminals with the same energy as street-level drug distributors. We will not stop until they have been brought to justice.”
Bladismir Rojo, Postal Inspector in Charge for USPIS Miami Division said: “The United States Postal Inspection Service is proud to stand with our domestic and international partners in identifying, disrupting, and dismantling transnational drug tracking organizations. We will pursue those who use the U.S. Mail to transport and distribute deadly drugs which impact the safety of postal employees and the communities they serve.”
Nicholas Ingegno, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at HSI Tallahassee added: “This defendant and his co-conspirators pushed poison into our communities, profiting off the addiction, violence, and destruction these dangerous substances bring. HSI and our partners remain relentless in our mission to dismantle these networks and protect our communities from the devastating impact of controlled substances.”
Grimm’s co-defendant Carrie-Ann Tooley from Northport, Maine was previously sentenced earlier this year.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs played a key role by assisting with Grimm’s arrest in July 2024 and extradition from the UK.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a national initiative aimed at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts involving multiple federal programs such as OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida serves as one of 94 principal litigating offices under direction from the Attorney General. Additional information about court documents can be found on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or through http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
