Trump Pardons Ross William Ulbricht freeing him from double life sentence

Donald Trump granted Silk Road founder Ross William Ulbricht, a full and unconditional pardon. Ross was sentenced to double life sentences plus 40 years.

Benjamin

• Updated: Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 05:36

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At a Glance

• Donald Trump granted Silk road founder Ross William Ulbricht, full and unconditional pardon.
• Ross was arrested on October 1, 2013 and was sentenced to double life sentences plus 40 years in prison without parole in 2015.
• The 47th USA president called the sentence as ridiculous and the people who convicted him are scum.

On 21st January 2025, President Donald Trump announced a full and unconditional pardon for Ross William Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road marketplace on the dark web.

In an announcement of the pardon Trump took to his Truth Social and called the people who convicted him as

President Donald Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, announced the pardon and expressed his disbelief at the people who convicted Ross and called them scum.

I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross. The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern-day weaponization of government against me. He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years. Ridiculous!

Under the pseudonym "Dread Pirate Roberts" Ross Ulbricht, launched Silk Road in 2011. The platform was the first of its kind, using the anonymous Tor network and Bitcoin in Bitcoin's early days, to make transactions. In a very short period, Silk Road became one of the famous platforms for selling everything from illegal goods, drugs, counterfeit goods, hacking services, and more.

Ulbricht's anonymity was breached when law enforcement traced his activities back to him. On October 1, 2013, Ulbricht was arrested in the San Francisco public library, where he was caught with his laptop logged into the Silk Road server. This marked the end of his operation of the Silk Road, which by then had processed multiple illicit transactions.

Ulbricht's trial from 2013 to 2015 was a landmark case for digital crimes. He was charged with seven counts, including distributing narcotics, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, and money laundering. Despite defense arguments that he intended to create a free market, not to personally engage in illegal activities or sales, Ross Ulbricht was found guilty and was given double life sentences plus 40 years without parole which was considered severe.

This article was originally published on: Jan 22, 2025 at 05:36 AM

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