Trump Pardons Silk Road Operator Ross Ulbricht

The Pardon of Ross Ulbricht: A Controversial Decision

On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump issued a pardon to Ross Ulbricht, who ran the dark web marketplace Silk Road under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts.” Ulbricht has been serving a life sentence without parole since 2015, when he was convicted of multiple charges, including the distribution of narcotics.

The Rise and Fall of Silk Road

The Silk Road marketplace, which was only accessible through the Tor network, became one of the most prevalent early commercial uses of Bitcoin. Buyers and sellers traded in illicit drugs, forged passports, and more.

The Controversy Surrounding Ulbricht’s Sentence

In the intervening years, Ulbricht became a cause celebrè for a certain segment of the right-wing, particularly in the crypto crowd that embraced Trump last year. To his supporters, Ulbricht’s life sentence is unusually punitive. Similar offenses have garnered much more lenient sentences — for instance, Blake Benthall, who operated Silk Road 2.0, was sentenced to time served and three years of probation. Ulbricht’s lieutenant, Thomas Clark, also known as “Variety Jones,” was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year.

The Impact of Ulbricht’s Actions

Although the criminal offenses were nonviolent in nature, the judge who sentenced Ulbricht took into account multiple deaths attributable to drugs bought through the Silk Road.

The Trial and Conviction

Throughout his trial, Ulbricht denied that he had committed the crimes at issue. Because law enforcement had arrested him with his laptop open, they had access to all his files, which included the code of the website, private messages between him and employees of the Silk Road, and a diary whose entries corresponded to OKCupid messages tied to Ross Ulbricht’s real identity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the pardon of Ross Ulbricht has sparked debate and controversy. While some believe his sentence was too harsh, others argue that the consequences of his actions were severe. The story of Silk Road and its founder will continue to be a topic of interest and discussion for years to come.

FAQs

Q: Why did President Trump pardon Ross Ulbricht?

A: President Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, citing reasons of compassion and justice.

Q: What impact did Silk Road have on the dark web?

A: Silk Road was one of the first major online marketplaces for illicit goods and services, paving the way for the dark web economy.

Q: What were the charges against Ross Ulbricht?

A: Ross Ulbricht was convicted of multiple charges, including the distribution of narcotics and operating an illegal online marketplace.

Credit: www.theverge.com