Charlie Shrem & Robert Faiella arrested

[prophetx]

is being in a state of psychosis from being constantly high as a kite a defense?

[1715494945]

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[TheButterZone]

More victimless "criminals" having the boot stamping on their face forever. Just a matter of time before every single localbitcoins seller is prosecuted for not harming anyone, because "economic liberty must be destroyed"!

[j68r]

The false wars on some drugs and its recent bastard offspring the false war some terror, fighting civil liberty on your behalf at your expense for over 100 years.

[Alphi]

i hope they put Mr Shrek in a cell with the Dead Pirate Robert so they can teach each other how to store bitcoins properly LOL...

but in all seriousness pulling the criminal elements out of the Bitcoin ecosystem can only improve its value over the long run.

Firstly because it locks up a lot of BTC for a very long time.

Secondly because each time BTC criminals get busted it renews public confidence that the Bitcoin Ecosystem is evolving past the old perceptions of being a haven for scammers and criminals.

gone is the myth that Bitcoin is anonymous
gone is the myth that you can use it to buy drugs online safely.
gone is the myth that criminals and scammers wont get caught.


when the powers that Be throw this many resources at trying to disrupt a new technology you know that that technology IS working.

[TheButterZone]

When they come for you Alphi, there will be no one left to speak out.

[Alphi]

When they come for you Alphi, there will be no one left to speak out.

let them come....

those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear...

[dave111223]

When they come for you Alphi, there will be no one left to speak out.

let them come....

those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear...

I look forward to the day I can buy jackboots with my bitcoins.

[TheButterZone]

When they come for you Alphi, there will be no one left to speak out.

let them come....

those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear...

Famous last words.

[cbeast]

When they come for you Alphi, there will be no one left to speak out.

let them come....

those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear...

Says the person using a pseudonym.

[sergio]

I think this is a direct attack on Bitcoin, the purpose is to discredit Bitcoin.

I have not seen any evidence from the press other than official accusations without providing any evidence whatsoever .

Personally I do not think it is true, most likely what happened is that he sold though the exchange Bitcoins to someone that used it on silkroad. But that makes no sense it is like arresting the CEO of a bank because the dollars of a drug dealer where obtained from a Bank or an ATM machine for that purpose.
Or like a thief taking a taxi and arresting the taxi driver and not the thief.

Some of you with less experience may believe what you hear on the press, sometimes thing  are true other times they are not, it this case I believe the goal is to discredit Bitcoin since its popularity has been rising and quickly.

From a business point of view for an exchange it is impossible to know what you are going to do with Bitcoins, or for that matter any exchange with any currency.

So far out of the few exchanges in the USA, 2 have been attacked mtgox and bitinstant, I would not be surprised at all if other Bitcoin exchanges  start running into problems.

In the case of mtgox the law was applied retroactively before a time the government even acknowledged that Bitcoin existed, and before Bitcoin was a currency or commodity under the law.

The war has been declared against Bitcoin, I believe that in the end Bitcoin will win, however the war will create large volatility that will be used by the press to discredit Bitcoin like it has been happening,

My advice hold onto your Bitcoins, and do not believe everything you hear without seeing strong evidence from independent media.
  
Like most of you I have no way of knowing weather what the press claims it is true or false, however with the lack of evidence and all the facts, to me this looks more like an organized attack on Bitcoin.

Most likely Charlie will be presented with huge accusations or an option to play guilty for a much lesser charge, even if the declares himself guilty it means nothing if it is under threat, the only thing meaningful is to see evidence of which we will probably never see.
 
 

[Taborresen]

When they come for you Alphi, there will be no one left to speak out.

let them come....

those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear...

Says the person using a pseudonym.

lol. Spot on.

[Alphi]

When they come for you Alphi, there will be no one left to speak out.

let them come....

those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear...

Says the person using a pseudonym.

says another guy with a pseudonym...

and what's your point exactly? I'm not hiding behind layers of TOR, proxies and VPN if that's what your getting at.
it wouldn't be hard for any law enforcement agency to track me down if they so wished... so.....

[Alphi]

Like most of you I have no way of knowing weather what the press claims it is true or false, however with the lack of evidence and all the facts, to me this looks more like an organized attack on Bitcoin.

you can read the indictment and make up your own mind.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/202555785/United-States-vs-Charles-Shrem-and-Robert-M-Faiella


also you're quite welcome to watch the case unfold if you want, Mr Faiella is already up in court...


no doubt they will make a show trial of this... since Silk Road was a huge PR win for the FBI and they will want to milk it for that its worth.

Edit: I just read the indictment.. they Prosecutors have a solid case against Mr Shrek they even have his emails where he clearly states he knew the guy was operating on silk road AND he overruled his co founders concerns and continued to do business with him... WHAT A DOUCHE... his stupidity just sank his company and trashed the reputations of 12 of his employees... ouch.

[Sutters Mill]

I just saw this. Good to hear that New York's state banking regulator, Benjamin Lawsky is 'almost' defending the Bitcoin economy by saying, "There are always going to be bad apples in any industry."

Detracts from all the other neysayers who would jump on this and accuse the anonymity of Bitcoin.

[Sydboy]

Jeepers, What a shame.

[jakedeez]

Anyone else want to start an alt coin called preet bararah coins, you know, just in case?

[LiteCoinGuy]

some videos about the topic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6tS78PZERs

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101366511

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/bitcoin-s-shrem-charged-in-drug-trafficking-case-SUfBFVBZSOi21NUoQtb2sg.html

[j68r]

They just make stuff up that suits their agenda, the war on btc is starting in earnest. These people need a war on something, anything, to confiscate, justify and of course spend... their bloated budget and ultimately survive or they'll have to go and try getting a real job.

It's reminiscent of the kimdotcom fiasco, little more than autonomous, corporate sponsored gestapo criminality masquerading as law enforcement. The MSM act as accomplices to the crime.

[subSTRATA]

http://www.businessinsider.com/report-ceo-of-major-bitcoin-exchange-arrested-2014-1

That many 3rd-party tracking and datamining craps are rarely seen, congratz!

[TheIrishman]

Bitcoin executive resigns amid money-laundering investigation

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/28/bitcoin-executive-resigns-money-laundering-silk-road-charlie-shrem

"Charlie Shrem, Bitcoin Foundation vice-president, resigns. Shrem accused of helping to launder money for Silk Road."