In addition to two life sentences, Ulbricht was sentenced to 40 years in prison for operating a site that facilitated $183 million in drug sales.
US President Donald Trump has pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the imprisoned founder of the Silk Road dark web market.
President Trump called Ulbricht’s mother on Tuesday to tell her that he had signed a “full and unconditional pardon” for her son, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2015 for his role in operating an illegal market. Announced.
“The scumbags who worked to convict him were the same lunatics who were responsible for the modern weaponization of the government against me,” President Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social. Ta.
“He was sentenced to two life sentences and 40 years in prison. That’s ridiculous!”
Ulbricht, 40, was found guilty of seven charges related to Silk Road’s operations, which used Bitcoin to facilitate the sale of illegal drugs and other illegal goods, including distributing narcotics and engaging in a criminal enterprise. received.
U.S. prosecutors alleged that the site was used to facilitate more than 1.5 million transactions worth approximately $213 million, including more than $183 million in drug sales.
Prosecutors also alleged that Ulbricht, who operated under the pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts, abetted the murders of people he considered a threat to his business, but he was not charged with a murder-for-hire plot. , no evidence was presented that anyone had committed the murder. He was actually killed.
Sentencing Ulbricht, U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest said the California man’s actions were a “carefully planned life’s work” and that he was “no better human being than other drug dealers.” said.
Although Mr. Ulbricht acknowledged the creation of the Silk Road, his lawyers say that after a few months, Mr. Ulbricht handed over control of the “economic experiment” to others, seducing it again to ensnare the very real operators that authorities were closing in on. claimed to have been done.
Mr. Ulbricht’s case has been cited by liberals and crypto enthusiasts as an example of government overreach, saying that Mr. Ulbricht himself did not sell any illegal products and that he could be held responsible for the transactions of people who used his site. He claimed that he had been unfairly prosecuted because of the
In May, Trump told the national convention of the Libertarian Party, a fringe party with no representation in Congress, that if elected he would commute Ulbricht’s sentence on “day one” of his administration.
After Trump’s election in November, Ulbricht expressed his gratitude to those who voted Republican on Trump’s behalf.
“I believe he will keep his promise and give me a second chance. After more than 11 years in the dark, I can finally see the light of freedom at the end of the tunnel.” he said in a post to X.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, known for championing libertarian causes, was among the many Ulbricht supporters who welcomed news of the pardon.
“Ross Ulbricht has been released with a full pardon by President Trump! Thank you, Mr. President, for keeping your promise to me and others who have advocated for Ross’ freedom.” Massey, the district representative, said in a post to X.