Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

[gentlemand]

No concern at all, he knew what he was doing and in the end the same thing that has fallen many men, fell him, arrogance and greed.  He thought we could be beyond the laws in some libertarian fantasy.  In reality, there are states, laws, policy, instinct and common sense.  He is no hero or martyr.  Just another ego that got out of control.  

It reminds me a little of the Freemen On The Land who don't believe the law applies to them as they didn't consent to it. They go to court, start nitpicking with their feeble little theories and seem astounded when the law fails to collapse in front of them and carts them off to jail instead.

[1715222367]

1715222367

[1715222367]

1715222367

[addy boy]

i am little bit confused between two things is it happent due to the silk road site or because of the site was in deepnet area. i meAn the site was supplying illigal goods without licance thats also a reason that why this happenes

[gentlemand]

i am little bit confused between two things is it happent due to the silk road site or because of the site was in deepnet area. i meAn the site was supplying illigal goods without licance thats also a reason that why this happenes

The dark web is naturally a place where bad things happen, but there's no law against being on there. People use it for legal things too.

[erik777]

I had no doubt this would be the sentence.  He played with fire and in the end, got burned.  The end.

The end? I hope not! 
The Prosecution of Ross Ulbricht should worry us all , that's what I learned after watching this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxLrA1RYEds

That is a very informative video!  Regardless of whether he deserved to be convicted of crimes, this presentation by his wife presents concrete detailed completely provable information demonstrating it was indisputably clear that he did not receive a fair trial, something every American should be able to expect regardless of what they did.   The methods with which he was deprived turned it into the closest thing you can come to a kangaroo court while still having a jury.  This represents a gross violation of the fiduciary duty of our public officials.  Not only does he deserve a fair re-trial with intense scrutiny on the fairness of it, but the public officials should be held accountable by the public by being deprived of a re-election into any public office. 

[martinB]

That is a very informative video!  Regardless of whether he deserved to be convicted of crimes, this presentation by his wife presents concrete detailed completely provable information demonstrating it was indisputably clear that he did not receive a fair trial, something every American should be able to expect regardless of what they did.   The methods with which he was deprived turned it into the closest thing you can come to a kangaroo court while still having a jury.  This represents a gross violation of the fiduciary duty of our public officials.  Not only does he deserve a fair re-trial with intense scrutiny on the fairness of it, but the public officials should be held accountable by the public by being deprived of a re-election into any public office. 

Totally agree except : "this presentation by his wife mother presents concrete"  

[Dalkore]

I had no doubt this would be the sentence.  He played with fire and in the end, got burned.  The end.

The end? I hope not! 
The Prosecution of Ross Ulbricht should worry us all , that's what I learned after watching this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxLrA1RYEds

That is a very informative video!  Regardless of whether he deserved to be convicted of crimes, this presentation by his wife presents concrete detailed completely provable information demonstrating it was indisputably clear that he did not receive a fair trial, something every American should be able to expect regardless of what they did.   The methods with which he was deprived turned it into the closest thing you can come to a kangaroo court while still having a jury.  This represents a gross violation of the fiduciary duty of our public officials.  Not only does he deserve a fair re-trial with intense scrutiny on the fairness of it, but the public officials should be held accountable by the public by being deprived of a re-election into any public office. 

I am not a legal scholar so I have no way of evaluating if he did or did not get a fair trial.  But it should be no surprise regardless that he got no sympathy from the courts and even with a fair trial he was going away for a long time. 

[Sexycentipede]

I don't really think Iife in prison is appropriate he just ran the website he didn't sell anything on it but I just think it was a bit harsh

[OmegaStarScream]

Unsealed Transcript Shows How Judge Justified Ross Ulbricht's Life Sentence : http://cointelegraph.com/news/115399/unsealed-transcript-shows-how-judge-justified-ross-ulbrichts-life-sentence
You can also see the document directly using this : https://www.scribd.com/doc/283722300/Ross-Ulbricht-Sentencing

[Guido]

the fact he was doing this whilst in the U.S is the most extraordinary thing.

he had like 100 million in btc at one point maybe more.

plus he was cordinating a marketplace for literally anything to be sold. overdoses, deaths as a result

wasn't like a bit of weed being sold

it's a tragedy in many ways as he seems very likeable and very smart but how naive was he to think he wouldn't be caught

like people who go on about tor, u.s navy invented it decades ago. you think this is secure? lol

[STT]

No concern at all, he knew what he was doing and in the end the same thing that has fallen many men, fell him, arrogance and greed.  He thought we could be beyond the laws in some libertarian fantasy.  In reality, there are states, laws, policy, instinct and common sense.  He is no hero or martyr.  Just another ego that got out of control.  

-D

This reminds me of Irwin Schiff who has been held 10 years for 'evading tax' and writing a book about it.   He at no point attempted to deceive or misled IRS just argue his case (ie. tax was not applicable) for which he received a similar harsh sentence as an example.   Clearly he is not the master criminal Ulbricht could be cast as but they are both naive in objecting or thinking they have a choice to wilfully object, (arrogant not to move abroad as many would)and the states reaction seems similar in that.
  He currently is 87 and is dying from terminal lung cancer yet cannot let be free for fear of being too soft on any threat to the superstate system.   I doubt Ulbricht gets any justice while he is also seen as any threat, any laws can be arranged if so desired to make progress unlikely.  If they cant even let out a book author after ten years who is going to die very soon, I dont see them extending any mercy elsewhere it would be seen as weakness within their ranks or something

[Gleb Gamow]

No concern at all, he knew what he was doing and in the end the same thing that has fallen many men, fell him, arrogance and greed.  He thought we could be beyond the laws in some libertarian fantasy.  In reality, there are states, laws, policy, instinct and common sense.  He is no hero or martyr.  Just another ego that got out of control.  

-D

This reminds me of Irwin Schiff who has been held 10 years for 'evading tax' and writing a book about it.   He at no point attempted to deceive or misled IRS just argue his case (ie. tax was not applicable) for which he received a similar harsh sentence as an example.   Clearly he is not the master criminal Ulbricht could be cast as but they are both naive in objecting or thinking they have a choice to wilfully object, (arrogant not to move abroad as many would)and the states reaction seems similar in that.
  He currently is 87 and is dying from terminal lung cancer yet cannot let be free for fear of being too soft on any threat to the superstate system.   I doubt Ulbricht gets any justice while he is also seen as any threat, any laws can be arranged if so desired to make progress unlikely.  If they cant even let out a book author after ten years who is going to die very soon, I dont see them extending any mercy elsewhere it would be seen as weakness within their ranks or something

I'm by no means a stanch Libertarian or an advocate of Schiff's teachings, but in was in the very late 70's when I found myself reading Irwin Schiff's The Biggest Con: How the Government Is Fleecing You, first time introducing me to alternative thinking, later with 1984, till that came and passed sans any apparent catastrophes, at least not on the surface that is.

[n2004al]

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

Ulbricht became a hero to many in the darknet community, as well as the broader Bitcoin and libertarian movements, after his arrest in November 2013 revealed him to be the ‘Dread Pirate Roberts’, the pseudonymous creator and operator of the Silk Road. His arrest came after a months long investigation by multiple law enforcement departments in the United States.

https://darknetmarkets.org/news/silk-road-founder-ross-ulbricht-sentenced/

It is time that this thread is created so this news is not more new. But I want to tell the mine. It is a wonderful news. One of the best decisions that court have declared since the time I have heard for the first time for bitcoin (about three years ago). This has removed in a big measure the bad name that bitcoins had when Silk Road flowered. Hope that him remain in prison all his life and that no one be able to repeat its story (even I have heard that were Silk Road 2 or even more but not with the same extension and importance of the first). Those kind of activities impedes the spread of bitcoin, its regulation and its legalization in every country in a fastest and without problems.

From the news during its arrest and judgement I have read that him has paid people to kill people when it was in risk its Silk Road. This is the emblematic sign which give an idea that where can go someone which have as the activity of its life the dirty things.

[BitmoreCoin]

I think sentence for life is too much, but it's still better then get caught by other countries & sentenced to death
Even so, he can't enjoy bitcoin that he have for rest of his life

Also, i think U.S caught him because they thought they could take away all his bitcoin.
There are many darknet markets, but why government won't stop them? Because they're not rich like Ross Ulbricht

So it is better not to be too rich.

[S4VV4S]

No concern at all, he knew what he was doing and in the end the same thing that has fallen many men, fell him, arrogance and greed.  He thought we could be beyond the laws in some libertarian fantasy.  In reality, there are states, laws, policy, instinct and common sense.  He is no hero or martyr.  Just another ego that got out of control.  

-D

This reminds me of Irwin Schiff who has been held 10 years for 'evading tax' and writing a book about it.   He at no point attempted to deceive or misled IRS just argue his case (ie. tax was not applicable) for which he received a similar harsh sentence as an example.   Clearly he is not the master criminal Ulbricht could be cast as but they are both naive in objecting or thinking they have a choice to wilfully object, (arrogant not to move abroad as many would)and the states reaction seems similar in that.
  He currently is 87 and is dying from terminal lung cancer yet cannot let be free for fear of being too soft on any threat to the superstate system.   I doubt Ulbricht gets any justice while he is also seen as any threat, any laws can be arranged if so desired to make progress unlikely.  If they cant even let out a book author after ten years who is going to die very soon, I dont see them extending any mercy elsewhere it would be seen as weakness within their ranks or something

I'm by no means a stanch Libertarian or an advocate of Schiff's teachings, but in was in the very late 70's when I found myself reading Irwin Schiff's The Biggest Con: How the Government Is Fleecing You, first time introducing me to alternative thinking, later with 1984, till that came and passed sans any apparent catastrophes, at least not on the surface that is.

That is quite an interesting book.
Haven't read it yet but I will do so soon.
I especially like the first review:

"I learned more concerning our government's tax policy and the manipulation of money (versus the pieces of paper we carry around in our wallets) from this book in three hours than four years of study in college."

[Bitcoin.Expert]

life in prison is a bit harsh

[gentlemand]

Also, i think U.S caught him because they thought they could take away all his bitcoin.
There are many darknet markets, but why government won't stop them? Because they're not rich like Ross Ulbricht

Have you seen some of the amounts that darknet markets ran away with when they stole from their customers? It's the equivalent of multiple millions in dollars.

The sheep marketplace guy was caught because he was possibly even more stupid than Ross. Other ones are likely to never be caught because I guess they planned it from minute one and never let up on staying secure.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

life in prison is a bit harsh

I think so too. People commit far, far worse crimes & have a chance to be released in 10-20 years. Ulbricht never handled any drugs himseld, he just created a platform allowing others to do so.

Sure he made money from it but he wasn't a drug dealer.

[n2004al]

life in prison is a bit harsh

I think so too. People commit far, far worse crimes & have a chance to be released in 10-20 years. Ulbricht never handled any drugs himseld, he just created a platform allowing others to do so.

Sure he made money from it but he wasn't a drug dealer.

So the corrupted politician or the police which help a criminal or a drugs courier have any fault. They never has touch gun or drug with their hands. Only helped the criminal to kill someone or to distribute the drug and to kill someone or to destroy thousand of peoples?

Interesting reasoning....  

[STT]

 A newspaper can carry private ads which allow the spread of crime, doesnt make them liable exactly.   I dont think you can relate as if he ordered or arranged any deaths, if he was guilty of that then fair enough try him on those counts but if he just setup a means of communication and transaction its not quite the same as 'being involved'  
What percentage of business on that site was legal, what percentage on these forums is legal or illegal.   Not everything is going to be perfectly legitimate anywhere, its not a simple case for or against.  Should he serve life no and personally for non violent crimes I dont believe in prisons of this kind as its purely punitive not corrective or preventative imprisonment.  

USA has created the largest population of illegal people of any nation, at some point I believe its unsustainable to keep just throwing away the key.  Government will either ramp up executions or hopefully develop a greater level of reasoning.  Its not just big cases like this either, in news recently was a case someone passed out and died in solitary confinement while on a traffic fine charge.  

[gentlemand]

It wasn't just a neutral message board. He was facilitating transactions by escrowing. Even then the neutral thing doesn't wash with The Man. Witness all these little lads getting nailed for curating pre existing links to downloads.