Silk Road Operator Ross Ulbricht to Be Sentenced Today

[cryptocoiner]

Convicted Silk Road operator Ross Ulbricht faces life in prison at a sentencing hearing tomorrow in New York.

The end of the trial comes more than a year and a half after Ulbricht's legal battle with the US government first began. Ulbricht was found guilty in February of narcotics, computer hacking and conspiracy charges in connection with his operation of the Silk Road black market.

As reported by Wired, prosecutors asked the court earlier this week that Ulbricht be given "a lengthy sentence" to dissuade other would-be dark market operators.

“The court thus has an opportunity to send a clear message to anyone tempted to follow his example that the operation of these illegal enterprises comes with severe consequences," the letter read.

In a separate letter addressed to US District Judge Katherine Forrest, Ulbricht asked to be spared from life in prison, acknowledging the severity of his actions but seeking a degree of leniency.

"I've had my youth, and I know you must take away my middle years, but please leave me my old age," he wrote. "Please leave a small light at the end of the tunnel, an excuse to stay healthy, an excuse to dream of better days and a chance to redeem myself in the free world before I meet my maker."

http://www.coindesk.com/silk-road-operator-ross-ulbricht-sentenced/

[Crenel84]

"Statists gonna state."

<insert gavel sound>

Two life terms from a judge in the Land of the Free. Because real freedom is a Bad Thing.

[TheIrishman]

Silk Road operator Ross Ulbricht sentenced to life in prison

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/29/silk-road-ross-ulbricht-sentenced

<< Ross Ulbricht, the man behind illegal online drug emporium Silk Road, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday by Judge Katherine Forrest of Manhattan's US district court for the southern district of New York. Before the sentencing the parents of the victims of drug overdoses addressed the court. Ulbricht broke down in tears. "I never wanted that to happen", he said. "I wish I could go back and convince myself to take a different path."

The 31-year-old physics graduate and former boy scout was handed five sentences: one for 20 years, one for 15 years, one for five and two for life. All are to be served concurrently with no chance of parole. The judge handed out the most severe sentence available to the man US authorities identified as "Dread Pirate Roberts", pseudonymous founder of an Amazon-like online market for illegal goods. >>

[Vod]

Life in prison without parole.  He'll never set foot outside of prison again for the rest of his life.

I wonder if this will deter other scammers, or do most people think they will never be caught, like he did?

[DarkForces]

Life in prison without parole.  He'll never set foot outside of prison again for the rest of his life.

I wonder if this will deter other scammers, or do most people think they will never be caught, like he did?

Most people think they will never be caught.

[Rmcdermott927]

Life in prison without parole.  He'll never set foot outside of prison again for the rest of his life.

I wonder if this will deter other scammers, or do most people think they will never be caught, like he did?

I'm sorry, I am not up to date on this story.  Did he scam people or did he just operate silk road?

[rayhan]

Silk Road operator Ross Ulbricht sentenced to life in prison

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/29/silk-road-ross-ulbricht-sentenced

<< Ross Ulbricht, the man behind illegal online drug emporium Silk Road, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday by Judge Katherine Forrest of Manhattan's US district court for the southern district of New York. Before the sentencing the parents of the victims of drug overdoses addressed the court. Ulbricht broke down in tears. "I never wanted that to happen", he said. "I wish I could go back and convince myself to take a different path."

The 31-year-old physics graduate and former boy scout was handed five sentences: one for 20 years, one for 15 years, one for five and two for life. All are to be served concurrently with no chance of parole. The judge handed out the most severe sentence available to the man US authorities identified as "Dread Pirate Roberts", pseudonymous founder of an Amazon-like online market for illegal goods. >>

That's some sentence. What a waste of such capabilities.
Unfortunate to see people choosing such paths. I guess that's just the way it goes..

[bryant.coleman]

Life in prison without parole.  He'll never set foot outside of prison again for the rest of his life.

Ross Ulbricht just became a martyr in his fight against exploitative bankers. Anyway... individuals are not important. The fight will continue. The banking cartel will eventually be destroyed.

Reminds me of the revolutionary Thomas Sankara, who was murdered by the CIA in 1987. A few days before his murder, he said: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas"

[Aggressor66]

The US is probably just annoyed that he didn't funnel his money through the US banking system like all good drug dealers, money launderers and weapons sellers do.

[Amadues]

very high punishment, because for terrorist or some other killers, there is directly an execution,without pain! In this case, there is the terrible message inside the guilty that is: You never can go out from here!
I think is much worst than a quickly and secure death after some months/years of jail, much better to do a life inside jail… I will become CRAZY! 

[bryant.coleman]

I think is much worst than a quickly and secure death after some months/years of jail, much better to do a life inside jail… I will become CRAZY! 

Yes. A life without parole is as bad as the death sentence. He is just 31 years old. He is going to spend another 50 years or so in prison, with hardy any interaction with the outside world. For someone who was very active in the internet sector, it will be extremely difficult. Nowadays, the death sentences are also carried out with a 30-35 year delay. That is even worse.

[Aggressor66]

I read recently that a recidivism study showed that 16 years of prison is enough to prevent recidivism.
More than 16 years of prison makes no difference in the outcome.
Life without parole is not only inhumane, but also unnecessary.

[erre]

Is life imprisonment for drug smuggling normal in the USA?

Seems inhumane to me...

[BRE]

Is life imprisonment for drug smuggling normal in the USA?

Seems inhumane to me...

32 countries impose the death penalty for drug smuggling, they are often imprisoned for years on “death row.
Not knowing when their time is up, or whether they will see their families one last time.
Inhumane for Ross ? idk we all have our own opinion about this.

[jmurjeff]

Is life imprisonment for drug smuggling normal in the USA?

Seems inhumane to me...

32 countries impose the death penalty for drug smuggling, they are often imprisoned for years on “death row.
Not knowing when their time is up, or whether they will see their families one last time.
Inhumane for Ross ? idk we all have our own opinion about this.

A few of those countries have a quick death row. Humanity can be judged on how a country treats their worst. In terms of his prison sentence it was more of a punitive measure rather than a punishment reserved for him. But now there is precedent so people will know what they are getting themselves into. However, prison sentences and death sentences don't necessarily deter crime. The majority of times if you survive to a certain age you are less likely to commit a crime. He should have gotten the minimum which is not that short. 20 years is a long time. A life sentence is worst than some people who have murdered, raped, or even stole life savings. I argue what he did was no where near as bad as some of the other individuals. Even people who attempted murder have not served as long a sentence.

[jaysabi]

Life in prison without parole.  He'll never set foot outside of prison again for the rest of his life.

I wonder if this will deter other scammers, or do most people think they will never be caught, like he did?

I'm sorry, I am not up to date on this story.  Did he scam people or did he just operate silk road?

I don't particularly care about Silk Road as a black market. The money laundering is a larger issue, but even this one I can get past. But the murder for hire charge is where I draw the line. I would like to see him serve an appropriately long prison term for attempted murder. It's not excusable.

Edit: I see now they never ended up charging him with the attempted murder charge.

[jmurjeff]

Life in prison without parole.  He'll never set foot outside of prison again for the rest of his life.

I wonder if this will deter other scammers, or do most people think they will never be caught, like he did?

I'm sorry, I am not up to date on this story.  Did he scam people or did he just operate silk road?

I don't particularly care about Silk Road as a black market. The money laundering is a larger issue, but even this one I can get past. But the murder for hire charge is where I draw the line. I would like to see him serve an appropriately long prison term for attempted murder. It's not excusable.

Edit: I see now they never ended up charging him with the attempted murder charge.

He still has to face this charge in Maryland. Even if he wins on appeal a reduced sentence, he may get added time for the Maryland charge. He is pretty much going to be stuck behind bars for life.

[jaysabi]

Life in prison without parole.  He'll never set foot outside of prison again for the rest of his life.

I wonder if this will deter other scammers, or do most people think they will never be caught, like he did?

I'm sorry, I am not up to date on this story.  Did he scam people or did he just operate silk road?

I don't particularly care about Silk Road as a black market. The money laundering is a larger issue, but even this one I can get past. But the murder for hire charge is where I draw the line. I would like to see him serve an appropriately long prison term for attempted murder. It's not excusable.

Edit: I see now they never ended up charging him with the attempted murder charge.

He still has to face this charge in Maryland. Even if he wins on appeal a reduced sentence, he may get added time for the Maryland charge. He is pretty much going to be stuck behind bars for life.

I thought I had read somewhere that he was charged with attempted murder, so the information in this article wasn't gelling with that. Thanks for reconciling it. It's a serious charge, and one that can't be excused with the community's rush to turn him into a martyr. Pick better heroes, because this guy is not a rallying cry.

[solid12345]

The excuse I keep hearing from the bleeding hearts is he wasn't "convicted" of the attempted murder charges.

Well Mark Karpeles wasn't convicted of stealing people's Bitcoins either but that doesn't stop him from being sentenced in the court of public opinion.

Occam's Razor suggests regardless of how corrupt the US Justice Dept is, the amount of overwhelming evidence shows Ross DID try to have these people killed, we can go on about how he was an Eagle Scout and loves his mom and all that Hallmark crap but greed is a powerful thing and the millions he made hoarding Bitcoins proves it went beyond just a simple experiment for him but a lust for riches.

[jmurjeff]

The excuse I keep hearing from the bleeding hearts is he wasn't "convicted" of the attempted murder charges.

Well Mark Karpeles wasn't convicted of stealing people's Bitcoins either but that doesn't stop him from being sentenced in the court of public opinion.

Occam's Razor suggests regardless of how corrupt the US Justice Dept is, the amount of overwhelming evidence shows Ross DID try to have these people killed, we can go on about how he was an Eagle Scout and loves his mom and all that Hallmark crap but greed is a powerful thing and the millions he made hoarding Bitcoins proves it went beyond just a simple experiment for him but a lust for riches.

He will get convicted on the attempted murder charges in Maryland unless his lawyer can work a miracle. But I don't think that is happening and it is pointless unless he wins on appeal a reduced sentence. Maybe it does have some value in the court of public opinion but if they added another life sentence to his life sentence means nothing imo.

I don't think he necessarily was all about money. I don't think he is someone who is all about the rich lifestyle. I think his problem was he was about power. The fact that he tried to have people killed is a bit disturbing because you don't leave a trail to your computer. But maybe that was his problem. He left all the evidence for everyone to find. How can people be so smart and dumb at the same time? I would have been out of the country living my life. But now he is stuck behind bars. Reminds me of the sandlot where the kid says "forever."