[2015-05-29] CD: Silk Road Operator Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

[Grand_Voyageur]

Silk Road Operator Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

Ross Ulbricht has been sentenced to life in prison for the operation of Silk Road, the now-defunct online dark market.

The sentence was handed down by US District Judge Katherine Forrest in New York today, capping roughly a year and a half-long legal process that saw multiple bitcoin auctions and the shock indictment of two federal agents involved in the investigation.

In addition to the prison term, Ulbricht has been ordered to pay nearly $200m. In a 28th May court filing, US prosecutors asked Forrest to require that Ulbricht pay $183,961,921 to the federal government, an amount tied to proceeds related to the operation of Silk Road during its active period.

Full story: http://www.coindesk.com/ross-ulbricht-sentenced/

[davidgdg]

Land of the Free ? Ha ha ha

[goxed]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/nyregion/ross-ulbricht-creator-of-silk-road-website-is-sentenced-to-life-in-prison.html?_r=0

[EternalWingsofGod]

Throws in another source
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/5/29/silk-road-ross-ulbricht.html

[vokain]

It is possible that one day soon enough, society changes to the point that a new authority pardons Ross. I'm hoping.

[melody82]

It is possible that one day soon enough, society changes to the point that a new authority pardons Ross. I'm hoping.

Somebody better get to bribing then, because that is the only way to get a pardon.  I imagine if the fine is ~190 mils then he or a close friend must have the resources to bribe a politician right?  I think the way it works is that the politician waits a few years until the heat dies down, and also until his term is over and then puts in a bunch of paid for pardons.  Anyway that is what I would look into if I was him.

[goxed]

It is possible that one day soon enough, society changes to the point that a new authority pardons Ross. I'm hoping.

إن شاء الله

[LiteCoinGuy]

as might have been expected

[bryant.coleman]

Here is the judge who sentenced him:



Katherine B. Forrest has got all the qualities to become an US judge. She is a radical feminist, bisexual, and a life-long friend of the bankers. Her net-worth is estimated at hundreds of millions of USD, and probably got even richer as a result of the judgement. 

[2dogs]

This is madness and Ross certainly hit a nerve.

Don't even get me started on corrupt politicians and the banksters who have raised havoc on the present economic crises:

https://vimeo.com/groups/96331/videos/80799353
(This is an excellent video, about an hour long - All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace.)

....and they get "get out of jail" cards for free.

I think they are afraid, very afraid of BTC.

[311]

Land of the Free ? Ha ha ha

America being the land of the free is just a delusion much like the American Dream, but he is a criminal so you really think he shouldn't be jailed along with every other criminal? There's no freedom for those that break the law if caught and he knew what he was doing. I don't think it should be a crime to run such a site nor should drugs be illegal but I can't stick by him on the murders he attempted to have carried out.

Here is the judge who sentenced him:



Katherine B. Forrest has got all the qualities to become an US judge. She is a radical feminist, bisexual, and a life-long friend of the bankers. Her net-worth is estimated at hundreds of millions of USD, and probably got even richer as a result of the judgement. 

Bisexual feminist? What are you talking about? Do you have sources for any of this stuff?

[kjlimo]

" shock indictment of two federal agents involved in the investigation"  I missed this article.  

"Ulbricht’s defense team has already said it will seek an appeal in his case. That call for a new trial will be based in part on recent revelations that two Secret Service and Drug Enforcement Administration agents involved in the investigation of the Silk Road allegedly stole millions of dollars of bitcoin from the site. One of the agents is even accused of blackmailing Ulbricht, and of allegedly selling him law enforcement information as a mole inside the DEA. But the judge in Ulbricht’s case ruled that those Baltimore-based agents weren’t involved in the New York FBI-led investigation that eventually took down the Silk Road, preventing their alleged corruption from affecting Ulbricht’s fate."

http://www.wired.com/2015/05/silk-road-creator-ross-ulbricht-sentenced-life-prison/

[Rampton]

I don't think the corruption charges of the officers will cause a retrial but its certainly their best option at the moment. I think Ross is screwed either way especially with the murder charges still pending. I would have felt sorry for him had he not done that (which I believe he is almost certainly guilty of).

[TerraMaster]

Hey man, the kid got what he deserved. Started out peddling "shrooms" and it grew from there. Smart as he was he could have had a real job and played by the rules, and excelled and contributed to society instead of dragging it into the gutter of sleazebags and alike. He was driven by criminal greed, never a good thing and usually ends the way it did.

Not to mention degrading Bitcoin and what it was intended to be used for. He just one of the many reasons Bitcoin has been given a bad rap. Sorry he played with fire and got burned.

Just a common street drug dealer that couldn't get enough.

As far as life in prison? well if he helped connect any dots that led to anyone's death, then it is well deserved.

Have a nice life Ross, you earned it.

[311]

Hey man, the kid got what he deserved. Started out peddling "shrooms" and it grew from there. Smart as he was he could have had a real job and played by the rules, and excelled and contributed to society instead of dragging it into the gutter of sleazebags and alike. He was driven by criminal greed, never a good thing and usually ends the way it did.

Not to mention degrading Bitcoin and what it was intended to be used for. He just one of the many reasons Bitcoin has been given a bad rap. Sorry he played with fire and got burned.

How do you know this isn't what bitcoin was intended for? It was intended to be a currency and as a currency you should be able to buy anything you want with it and that includes drugs. Bitcoin is actually a great tool for those who want to buy drugs but cant because of archaic laws and Silk Road facilitated their right to be able to buy them safely. With that being said I don't agree with a lot of the things Ross did but if he had of not let the power go to his head I would have supported him, but not when he tries to knock off his enemies.

[TerraMaster]

Hey man, the kid got what he deserved. Started out peddling "shrooms" and it grew from there. Smart as he was he could have had a real job and played by the rules, and excelled and contributed to society instead of dragging it into the gutter of sleazebags and alike. He was driven by criminal greed, never a good thing and usually ends the way it did.

Not to mention degrading Bitcoin and what it was intended to be used for. He just one of the many reasons Bitcoin has been given a bad rap. Sorry he played with fire and got burned.

How do you know this isn't what bitcoin was intended for? It was intended to be a currency and as a currency you should be able to buy anything you want with it and that includes drugs. Bitcoin is actually a great tool for those who want to buy drugs but cant because of archaic laws and Silk Road facilitated their right to be able to buy them safely. With that being said I don't agree with a lot of the things Ross did but if he had of not let the power go to his head I would have supported him, but not when he tries to knock off his enemies.

I don't think the satoshi white papers mentioned... and oh ya would be great for buying illegal drugs, hit men and so on   This is exactly why BTC value is down and the average Joe who has heard of it (BTC) relates it to crime and theft, drugs, porn and the list goes on.

Like you said, he let the power go to his head.

I'm sure he will have a better retirement plan than I will have too. Free medical, dental, 3 hot meals a day, activity center, gym, weight room, cable TV ....... Just no women,,, now that part really sux lol (Just Big Bubba) 

[311]

Hey man, the kid got what he deserved. Started out peddling "shrooms" and it grew from there. Smart as he was he could have had a real job and played by the rules, and excelled and contributed to society instead of dragging it into the gutter of sleazebags and alike. He was driven by criminal greed, never a good thing and usually ends the way it did.

Not to mention degrading Bitcoin and what it was intended to be used for. He just one of the many reasons Bitcoin has been given a bad rap. Sorry he played with fire and got burned.

How do you know this isn't what bitcoin was intended for? It was intended to be a currency and as a currency you should be able to buy anything you want with it and that includes drugs. Bitcoin is actually a great tool for those who want to buy drugs but cant because of archaic laws and Silk Road facilitated their right to be able to buy them safely. With that being said I don't agree with a lot of the things Ross did but if he had of not let the power go to his head I would have supported him, but not when he tries to knock off his enemies.

I don't think the satoshi white papers mentioned... and oh ya would be great for buying illegal drugs, hit men and so on  This is exactly why BTC value is down and the average Joe who has heard of it (BTC) relates it to crime and theft, drugs, porn and the list goes on.

Like you said, he let the power go to his head.

I'm sure he will have a better retirement plan than I will have too. Free medical, dental, 3 hot meals a day, activity center, gym, weight room, cable TV ....... Just no women,,, now that part really sux lol

Satoshi didn't have to explicitly say it will or should be used for drugs or criminality but he I think he alluded that it would likely be used for such things I believe. I also think that if it wasn't for Silk Road bitcoin wouldn't be where it is today. In fact, I first heard of it by the coverage it got in the media because of it. The value being 'down' has absolutely nothing to do with this but it would fall even lower if it stopped being used on the darknet because whether people like it or not bitcoin still has a viable and massive use on the deep web.

[TerraMaster]

Hey man, the kid got what he deserved. Started out peddling "shrooms" and it grew from there. Smart as he was he could have had a real job and played by the rules, and excelled and contributed to society instead of dragging it into the gutter of sleazebags and alike. He was driven by criminal greed, never a good thing and usually ends the way it did.

Not to mention degrading Bitcoin and what it was intended to be used for. He just one of the many reasons Bitcoin has been given a bad rap. Sorry he played with fire and got burned.

How do you know this isn't what bitcoin was intended for? It was intended to be a currency and as a currency you should be able to buy anything you want with it and that includes drugs. Bitcoin is actually a great tool for those who want to buy drugs but cant because of archaic laws and Silk Road facilitated their right to be able to buy them safely. With that being said I don't agree with a lot of the things Ross did but if he had of not let the power go to his head I would have supported him, but not when he tries to knock off his enemies.

I don't think the satoshi white papers mentioned... and oh ya would be great for buying illegal drugs, hit men and so on   This is exactly why BTC value is down and the average Joe who has heard of it (BTC) relates it to crime and theft, drugs, porn and the list goes on.

Like you said, he let the power go to his head.

I'm sure he will have a better retirement plan than I will have too. Free medical, dental, 3 hot meals a day, activity center, gym, weight room, cable TV ....... Just no women,,, now that part really sux lol

Satoshi didn't have to explicitly say it will or should be used for drugs or criminality but he I think he alluded that it would likely be used for such things I believe. I also think that if it wasn't for Silk Road bitcoin wouldn't be where it is today. In fact, I first heard of it by the coverage it got in the media because of it. The value being 'down' has absolutely nothing to do with this but it would fall even lower if it stopped being used on the darknet because whether people like it or not bitcoin still has a viable and massive use on the deep web.

Yes I agree I am sure the illegal use of BTC at some level kept the demand for it high and may have helped bring BTC to the for front by gaining that value. But is a double edged sword. Illegal use and cyber crime involving BTC has hurt the image for sure now.

Oh well, I am not rich, but have played by the rules and go to bed with a clear conscience. Like I said he pretty much got what he deserved from all I have read. He made choices. Did you read his Diary? pretty interesting. But also helped convict him. IF he had nothing to do with any ones death or attempts that way, then I feel life in prison was a bit much, we just don't know all that part yet.

[2dogs]

Lyn Ulbricht is the mother of Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road website, who was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Deeply involved with her son’s defense, Lyn has witnessed how the government prosecutes citizens, suppresses evidence, and violates the Constitution.

On Monday night, show your support, ask your questions and be part of this emotional evening hosted by Tatiana Moroz.

Please consider supporting Ross if you can: freeross.org.

In the hour leading up to Tatiana’s interview with Lyn, Namoi Brockwell and Jeffrey Tucker will reflect on Ross’s sentencing. Naomi attended in person and will share her first-hand experience of being in the courtroom. Please join for an important and emotional night.

Also, Jeffrey Tucker’s recent article on the tragic sentencing is a must read.

https://liberty.me/live/free-ross-the-tatiana-show-with-lynn-ulbricht/

[goxed]