Who is "Variety Jones"?

[moriartybitcoin]

Lmao, gotta give it to the man, "Variety Jones" sounds so smooth, cool nickname, would be a good character in a tarantino movie.

Guy must be good at a variety of things. I mean even coming up with names hes quite clever: "Dread Pirate Roberts" - "Variety Jones"

AGREE

I bet he's the real brains behind the site. Smart chap.

[1715546753]

1715546753

[1715546753]

1715546753

[1715546753]

1715546753

[1715546753]

1715546753

[Sutters Mill]

Lmao, gotta give it to the man, "Variety Jones" sounds so smooth, cool nickname, would be a good character in a tarantino movie.

Guy must be good at a variety of things. I mean even coming up with names hes quite clever: "Dread Pirate Roberts" - "Variety Jones"

AGREE

I bet he's the real brains behind the site. Smart chap.

I was going to answer the question of Who is "Variety Jones"? with obviously a smarter guy than ross. I think you would do best not being actually in control of the site and being involved in somewhat of an advisory role or someone who just helps out. When shit hits the fan you've still got yourself covered and can disappear easily enough. Ross had too much heat and things to worry about but he obviously didn't worry about them enough and hence why he got caught.

[AGD]

Here are some of the chat logs between DPR and VJ/Cimon: https://de.scribd.com/collections/13080591/Silk-Road-trial-exhibits

[BillyBobZorton]

Variety Jones sells a variety of products of dubious origin.

[el_rlee]

Wasn't "Variety Jones" a weed seed dealer on SR? There must be a million site backups out there to look that up - I'm sure many crawled SR....

[AGD]

- The Jester >> No.

Why?

- Dread Pirate Roberts (or the "Real DPR" - SR2+reloaded admin) >> No, too stupid, used his real email.

Not Blake Benthall/Defcon4, but the one who started the SR2 shortly after the arrest of Ross U.

- an FBI agent >> Doubtful, as VJ gave DPR some good tips.

Yeah, its doubtful, but still possible.

- Satoshi Nakamoto (thx neurotypical) >> Possible, but why get involved after getting out of the game?

We don't know Satoshi's plan.

- Russ Ulbricht (He could have invented the "Variety Jones" character to use this as a proof of his innocence on a possible future trial) >> He wasn't smart enough for that. He didn't have an operational security mindset.

True. Also he didn't use that in trial. He looks like a perfect fall guy to me.

- Rene Pinnell >> Don't know who this chap is.

Rene Pinell is a friend of Ross U.
http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/2/4794780/fbi-seizes-underground-drug-market-silk-road-owner-indicted-in-new#ooid=oxb2piZjoLAa-6tAUoCz7_3VGLx6Bm4O

- Marc Karpeles >> Nah, he made enough money stealing Gox funds!

Maybe not enough.

[whogivesdamn]

Variety Jones hit SR with a huge splash of 17 pages of listings . I had a lot of contact with him almost from day one . He pretended to be in the UK but it became obvious he was American . He placed orders with me via a buyer account but made " mistakes " that identified that account as being his . Before he disappeared he offered me his business , lock stock and barrel , after a lot of thought I said thanks but no . I believe he was an FBI befriender .

[el_rlee]

Variety Jones hit SR with a huge splash of 17 pages of listings . I had a lot of contact with him almost from day one . He pretended to be in the UK but it became obvious he was American . He placed orders with me via a buyer account but made " mistakes " that identified that account as being his . Before he disappeared he offered me his business , lock stock and barrel , after a lot of thought I said thanks but no . I believe he was an FBI befriender .

So what did he sell? Is there some archived copy of the old SR online somewhere?

[whogivesdamn]

Variety Jones hit SR with a huge splash of 17 pages of listings . I had a lot of contact with him almost from day one . He pretended to be in the UK but it became obvious he was American . He placed orders with me via a buyer account but made " mistakes " that identified that account as being his . Before he disappeared he offered me his business , lock stock and barrel , after a lot of thought I said thanks but no . I believe he was an FBI befriender .

So what did he sell? Is there some archived copy of the old SR online somewhere?

He only sold Cannabis seeds . St Exo scraped site and El President made a searchable reference site for DN vendors but I don't know about an archive .The FBI imaged the site perhaps if you asked nicely

[koelen3]

Why can't he be just some different person who is still unkown to us

[AGD]

Variety Jones hit SR with a huge splash of 17 pages of listings . I had a lot of contact with him almost from day one . He pretended to be in the UK but it became obvious he was American . He placed orders with me via a buyer account but made " mistakes " that identified that account as being his . Before he disappeared he offered me his business , lock stock and barrel , after a lot of thought I said thanks but no . I believe he was an FBI befriender .

Interesting post.
What mistakes he made to reveal his nationality?
What made you think he was involved with the FBI?

[whogivesdamn]

Variety Jones hit SR with a huge splash of 17 pages of listings . I had a lot of contact with him almost from day one . He pretended to be in the UK but it became obvious he was American . He placed orders with me via a buyer account but made " mistakes " that identified that account as being his . Before he disappeared he offered me his business , lock stock and barrel , after a lot of thought I said thanks but no . I believe he was an FBI befriender .

Interesting post.
What mistakes he made to reveal his nationality?
What made you think he was involved with the FBI?

As I said there was a lot of PM's and they were over a good period of time . There was always something a little odd that I couldn't put my finger on but in my mind he ( I'm assuming ) seemed an OK person . In 1 PM there was a reference to some law that I was unfamiliar with  ( a particular name associated with )  so I looked it up and it was US , it fitted well with his manner of speech and the more I looked the more likely it was that VJ was American . With hindsight I think he was LE , Cannabis seeds widely available and aren't illegal in many Countries , so for an LE officer to get involved with trading them isn't such a huge leap off the cliff ( Unlike Nod , look it up ) . His stock was massive and he offered good prices , good service and a very solid guarantee . Off the top of my head 17 pages x 25 listings ( I think ) =  425 different seeds of which he always had a few units in stock , that represents an investment of approx £20,00 ( don't quote me these are rough figures ) . Again with hindsight , I believe he used this large presence to work his way in with DPR . I came in after the first round of publicity , so not an original but an early adopter . This stuff was all bright shiny and new for 90% of us but after a few scammers it became apparent that anybody trying to carve out a larger than usual niche was someone to be wary of but I didn't put VJ into that catergory till later

He offered me his stock ( +$250,00 his figure ) with a view to either sell off or restock as my choice . He was off to hike the Machu Picchu trails and live as a digital nomad ( his words ) . This contradicted what he'de previously said about using weed to ease his multiple sclerosis . I gave it serious thought but there was no way of getting this stock cleanly so said no . I believe this was his last play to get as much as possible out of this profile/persona before he retired it .

None of this is conclusive but I believe it to be true .

[AGD]

Variety Jones hit SR with a huge splash of 17 pages of listings . I had a lot of contact with him almost from day one . He pretended to be in the UK but it became obvious he was American . He placed orders with me via a buyer account but made " mistakes " that identified that account as being his . Before he disappeared he offered me his business , lock stock and barrel , after a lot of thought I said thanks but no . I believe he was an FBI befriender .

Interesting post.
What mistakes he made to reveal his nationality?
What made you think he was involved with the FBI?

As I said there was a lot of PM's and they were over a good period of time . There was always something a little odd that I couldn't put my finger on but in my mind he ( I'm assuming ) seemed an OK person . In 1 PM there was a reference to some law that I was unfamiliar with  ( a particular name associated with )  so I looked it up and it was US , it fitted well with his manner of speech and the more I looked the more likely it was that VJ was American . With hindsight I think he was LE , Cannabis seeds widely available and aren't illegal in many Countries , so for an LE officer to get involved with trading them isn't such a huge leap off the cliff ( Unlike Nod , look it up ) . His stock was massive and he offered good prices , good service and a very solid guarantee . Off the top of my head 17 pages x 25 listings ( I think ) =  425 different seeds of which he always had a few units in stock , that represents an investment of approx £20,00 ( don't quote me these are rough figures ) . Again with hindsight , I believe he used this large presence to work his way in with DPR . I came in after the first round of publicity , so not an original but an early adopter . This stuff was all bright shiny and new for 90% of us but after a few scammers it became apparent that anybody trying to carve out a larger than usual niche was someone to be wary of but I didn't put VJ into that catergory till later

He offered me his stock ( +$250,00 his figure ) with a view to either sell off or restock as my choice . He was off to hike the Machu Picchu trails and live as a digital nomad ( his words ) . This contradicted what he'de previously said about using weed to ease his multiple sclerosis . I gave it serious thought but there was no way of getting this stock cleanly so said no . I believe this was his last play to get as much as possible out of this profile/persona before he retired it .

None of this is conclusive but I believe it to be true .

This makes sense. I had FBI added in my list in my OP already, exactly because of what you are describing PLUS some more:

- He was eager to get in touch with Ross
- He sold only seeds (legal in some US states and other countries)
- He is more likely to be an american, than a british citizen

- He had the ability to kinda brainwash Ross (psychological training)
- He had over average computer skills to find security holes. (A very good reason why Ross would be interested to stay in contact with VJ. LE would have a lot of control over the sites source code and all sellers/buyers, in case VJ was hired to close the sec holes.

You remember the time VJ offered you to buy his stock? Was it before or after the first arrests of some SR vendors?

[whogivesdamn]

Variety Jones hit SR with a huge splash of 17 pages of listings . I had a lot of contact with him almost from day one . He pretended to be in the UK but it became obvious he was American . He placed orders with me via a buyer account but made " mistakes " that identified that account as being his . Before he disappeared he offered me his business , lock stock and barrel , after a lot of thought I said thanks but no . I believe he was an FBI befriender .

Interesting post.
What mistakes he made to reveal his nationality?
What made you think he was involved with the FBI?

As I said there was a lot of PM's and they were over a good period of time . There was always something a little odd that I couldn't put my finger on but in my mind he ( I'm assuming ) seemed an OK person . In 1 PM there was a reference to some law that I was unfamiliar with  ( a particular name associated with )  so I looked it up and it was US , it fitted well with his manner of speech and the more I looked the more likely it was that VJ was American . With hindsight I think he was LE , Cannabis seeds widely available and aren't illegal in many Countries , so for an LE officer to get involved with trading them isn't such a huge leap off the cliff ( Unlike Nod , look it up ) . His stock was massive and he offered good prices , good service and a very solid guarantee . Off the top of my head 17 pages x 25 listings ( I think ) =  425 different seeds of which he always had a few units in stock , that represents an investment of approx £20,00 ( don't quote me these are rough figures ) . Again with hindsight , I believe he used this large presence to work his way in with DPR . I came in after the first round of publicity , so not an original but an early adopter . This stuff was all bright shiny and new for 90% of us but after a few scammers it became apparent that anybody trying to carve out a larger than usual niche was someone to be wary of but I didn't put VJ into that catergory till later

He offered me his stock ( +$250,00 his figure ) with a view to either sell off or restock as my choice . He was off to hike the Machu Picchu trails and live as a digital nomad ( his words ) . This contradicted what he'de previously said about using weed to ease his multiple sclerosis . I gave it serious thought but there was no way of getting this stock cleanly so said no . I believe this was his last play to get as much as possible out of this profile/persona before he retired it .

None of this is conclusive but I believe it to be true .

This makes sense. I had FBI added in my list in my OP already, exactly because of what you are describing PLUS some more:

- He was eager to get in touch with Ross
- He sold only seeds (legal in some US states and other countries)
- He is more likely to be an american, than a british citizen

- He had the ability to kinda brainwash Ross (psychological training)
- He had over average computer skills to find security holes. (A very good reason why Ross would be interested to stay in contact with VJ. LE would have a lot of control over the sites source code and all sellers/buyers, in case VJ was hired to close the sec holes.

You remember the time VJ offered you to buy his stock? Was it before or after the first arrests of some SR vendors?

Early on there was very few arrests of vendors and they tended to be people that were a bit slipshod with opsec , I'm not sure which ones you're referring to . However I remember it was just after the announcement of the Dread Pirate Roberts name adoption , I thought this sounded like a damn silly name but after googling the origins I got what he was trying to do/say . When VJ told me he was selling up and moving on I asked if this is what he intended to happen to his profile , another vendor continuing in his name , he replied that I was the only 1 got the offer ( hmmm ) . So if you know when the name change happened you can work out the timings of the arrests you're talking about ( add 4-8 weeks from announcement to offer )

[AGD]

I meant around that time Steven Sadler aka "Nod" was arrested end of July 2013. There have been some more arrests short before that.

[bitillionaire]

Satoshi Nakamoto shouldn't be included on that list to be honest , he would never be involved in Silk road , He is too smart to get catched or simply to involve him self on such illegal activies .

Well, VJ didn't get catched by now as it seems and we don't know much about SN, but that he knows a lot about computers, crypto and security. He is not my favourite candidate, but he still fits on the list.

My first theory is, that VJ heard about Silkroad and planned to overtake the site. He could get in contact with Russ through the sites security holes and his ideas about making SR bigger and better organized. He practically controlled Russ U. and stole a big amount of Bitcoins (SR Hacks) that was later used to buy the SR site from Russ. He also took over his own invented DPR moniker (which he even used on the SR2 site). Later when one guy from the SR staff was arrested, he planned to re contact Russ and - with an excuse - trick him back to admin SR for him for a while and to let him be the fall guy.

Edit: Every proof found (this dumb journal etc) on Russ Ulbrichts pc could be created, edited and placed on his computer by VJ using 0-days.

Is your "o" key broken?

The man's name is ROSS Ulbricht.

Jeeze.

[Will.i.am Shakespeare]

Here are some of the chat logs between DPR and VJ/Cimon: https://de.scribd.com/collections/13080591/Silk-Road-trial-exhibits

Why the hell did Ross keep chat logs of this sort of stuff. He seemed to keep logs and notes of pretty much everything. He even asked for his 'employees' ID which was a silly thing to do especially by the employees. Why would they give him their IDs thus incriminating themselves and Ross once they were found. Pure stupidity.

[keelba]

May as well be asking, "Who is John Galt?"

[SherlockHolmes]

First mention of Variety Jones was by PoM in the Overgrow stories.  There are people in the UK weed scene who know who he is. 

[el_rlee]

First mention of Variety Jones was by PoM in the Overgrow stories.  There are people in the UK weed scene who know who he is. 

Didn't he write his name (or the name of his shop) in clear text on the site? He only sold seeds, totally legal in UK...