Doctor Paid $60,000 in Bitcoin to Hire Dark Web Hitmen

A former neonatologist received an 8-year prison sentence and was mandated to pay over $25,000 in compensation, along with a $100,000 fine.

Ronald Craig Ilg, age 56, received an 8-year sentence for arranging assaults and kidnappings through hitmen hired on the dark web. The Spokane, Washington doctor shelled out $60,000 in Bitcoin to hitmen for the requested services.

This outcome shouldn’t shock anyone, as last year the US DOJ accused a cardiologist of creating two hazardous ransomware variants and here they are mentioned below:-

• Thanos
• Jigsaw v.2

The ex-neonatologist employed the anonymity of the dark web to steer alleged hitmen to attack his targets. Interestingly, the first doctor was also a former colleague, a doctor who practices in the Spokane region.

Ilg disbursed over $2,000 worth of Bitcoin to hitmen and explicitly requested harm to the victim’s hands, such as breaking them. Additionally, he asked for proof that the task had been completed in a timely manner. As for his estranged wife, she was his second victim. 

According to the DOJ report, An amount of Bitcoin valued at $60,000 was allegedly transferred to kidnappers by the suspect, with the goal of compelling the victim to terminate divorce proceedings by injecting her with heroin.

Moreover, if the hitmen were successful in carrying out the task, he promised them a bonus. On the other hand, the FBI was successful in intercepting Ilg’s communications on the dark web in order to stop him from carrying out his plots.

Ilg wrote a plea to a crucial witness against him, proposing marriage as a means of influencing her testimony. He proposed covering the tuition costs for the children of the witness to attend the following educational institutions:- 

• St. Aloysius Catholic School
• Gonzaga Preparatory School

Ilg instructed the witness to eliminate proof of their actions by setting fire to Ilg’s written correspondence. Upon admitting guilt for his offenses, Ilg aimed to secure a book or film contract in an effort to derive substantial financial benefit from his criminal actions.

Judge Nielsen characterized the actions of Dr. Ilg as extremely reprehensible and even malevolent, since he is a medical professional.

This instance shows that the FBI can still identify and thwart individuals who engage in criminal behavior on the dark web, despite its reputation for providing anonymity.

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