Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

[Bitware]

Yep, we called this in the poll thread. His only hope is proving reversible error in Federal District Court of Appeals. A pardon isn't going to happen IMO.

As to being worse than death, it really depends on his mind set. On one hand, he's still alive, but not free. After a term of institutionalization, it becomes an everyday way of life he might adjust to. Others never adjust, go stir crazy and are always plotting ways to escape and some try to escape periodically. Its drives others insane. He is relatively young, so he may be able to adjust.

Personally, I would rather be alive and in prison than dead, so long as I was not being tortured. In federal prison he can continue his education, read, watch tv, listen to the radio, work, practice hobbies, even use the internet email to message friends and relatives, etc. Plus if he has money sent and/or earns money in prison, he can buy lots of quality of life items to make his stay less unpleasant - http://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/flm/FLX_CommList.pdf - Something tells me he is always going to have lots of money in his prison account to buy anything he is allowed.

[futureofbitcoin]

Something tells me he is always going to have lots of money in his prison account to buy anything he is allowed.

After he pays back the 180+ million dollars, I'd imagine.


That said, it's true some people live much better lives while in prison/house arrest than 99% of people will ever enjoy.

[Balls]

Something tells me he is always going to have lots of money in his prison account to buy anything he is allowed.

After he pays back the 180+ million dollars, I'd imagine.


That said, it's true some people live much better lives while in prison/house arrest than 99% of people will ever enjoy.

Does he even have that much money in bitcoins or is that just a number the USG made up based off their estimates of something?

[Light]

Something tells me he is always going to have lots of money in his prison account to buy anything he is allowed.

After he pays back the 180+ million dollars, I'd imagine.


That said, it's true some people live much better lives while in prison/house arrest than 99% of people will ever enjoy.

I thought that they confiscated all his illegal earnings from Silk Road when they arrested him? Don't see how he'd have that much money after that.

As to his sentence, I must admit I feel it a bit long considering that murderers and rapists get less (although I do have some belief in the allegation he ordered murders) but it was sort of predictable given that the state wanted to make a major example out of him to prevent others. The thing that bugs me is that the parents of drug overdosers blame him (which might be partially true) and not their kids at all. If you taught you're kids or prevented their drug abuse they wouldn't have been overdosed in the first place. It's like blaming the gun store for the gunman who kills everyone.

[Kyraishi]

Ross William Ulbricht, legendary creator of the original darknet market The Silk Road, has been sentenced today in federal prison to Life in Prison.

Can he appeal to the higher court ?

There will definitely be appeals.

The sentence is so harsh, because they want to make an example out of him. Only the government can sell drugs and murder people that cause problems.

Well said!

Anybody seen the movie: "Kill the messenger"?
How about the documentary: Freeway: Crack in the system ?

[LiteCoinGuy]

firm but fair

[btcxyzzz]

In few years, when they legalize half of the stuff that was available on Silk Road, his punishment will become even more ridiculous, not to mention false laws at the first place. We're not living in the free world, we're living in fucking Matrix, I feel real sorry for him.

[btcxyzzz]

firm but fair

two words for you stupid prick: fuck you!

[btcxyzzz]

he actually deserves life.  unlike most of u people.  i actually bought some damaging drugs from that site (like opium).  the instructions were to put it in my freezer cause it came from India and was really hot and liquid like.  but i didn't wait.  i instead smoked the plastic it came on by accident.  now i have this cough that won't go away

fuck HIM

and FUCK HIM FOR NOT SELLING OPIUM LOCALLY OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND KEPT IT OUT OF THE HEAT
FUCK ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES IN GENERAL.

if he deserves life in prison, you're surely then deserve death.

[btcxyzzz]

he deserved it!
he made milions for supporting killers!

...and you're nothing but brainwashed prick. realize it.

[The Bad Guy]

Dafuq and me who thought he will only get like 20 years and go out once again to enjoy Silk road money (if he still have any hidden) .
Wondering also (I don't know a lot about law and stuff , just a teenager ) , if he went outside USA and hosted Silk road ? who will punish him ? the country he was in ? or USA because he is a US Citizen ? or the country where he bought the host for his website from ? kinda confused

[btcxyzzz]

he is basically responsible for a dozen of death people
just imagine how many people bought hard drugs and died from it?
or the damage he caused through counterfeit vendors!

He is not responsible for anyone doing any drugs and for consequences because. Everyone should be free to do whatever they want as long as it doesn't affect others. In my view, he was NOT affecting other's decisions, actually he done some good to people doing drugs because his market was offering better quality compared to street. You get that prick?

[mishax1]

open bazaar
blockmarket
one market
shadowmarket

is there really a chance for these projects to actually replace the darknet marketplaces ?

[RawDog]

How long is life in the States? Literally life?

Everyone keeps saying Ross got 'life'.  But he actually got far more than that.  He got life, without possibility of parole.  Which is FAR more severe.  Life - means you could one day get out.  Life without parole - means it is 100% over.  He will never see the light of day again.  For sure.

[teukon]

I hope and pray that the Judge has something worse than a rough bowel moment. I hope she gets meningitis.

For doing her job?  Wishing ill will on someone you know nothing about other than her name is so mature.  She has a job and she did it.  It isn't an easy one and I am sure some of the decisions she has to make sticks with her in a negative way for years.

Is a hired assassin absolved of any wrongdoing because they profit from their task?  Were the Gestapo behaving reasonably because they took home a wage for their brutality?

[amiryaqot]

open bazaar
blockmarket
one market
shadowmarket

is there really a chance for these projects to actually replace the darknet marketplaces ?

Openbazar is one of the most awaiting project and has widely scope to replace the silkroad as so many big eyes on this project, well let's see what future brings to this as the Dev team claiming this will be pure decentralized marketplace and if they able to deliver than this will get huge success.

[BitmoreCoin]

he deserved it!
he made milions for supporting killers!

If we extrapolate that, then not many high rank US officials will be live or outside prison.

[jubalix]

im so glad im not in the US, its insane there.

RU provided a serivce, how can he be blamed, for some kid choosing to take the drug or any other person, where is the personal responsibility?

the whole war on drugs is stupid beyond reason.

Further its been proven that no matter how many dealers you take out, the economics of it means someone steps into to fill the demand.

The only way to "stop" drugs is give a better alternative like you know opportunity to acutally get a decent stake in your future, eg wage etc. Not huge student debts to no jobs etc.

[btcxyzzz]

open bazaar
blockmarket
one market
shadowmarket

is there really a chance for these projects to actually replace the darknet marketplaces ?

that's the next big thing on the web, and since it's natural evolution of market - it must happen, the only question is when.

[Elwar]

His only consolation is that the US government will not last as long as his sentence.