Newly sworn-in President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has granted Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht a full and unconditional pardon.
Mr. Ulbricht was convicted in 2015 for his role in creating an online marketplace where illegal services and products were sold to evade law enforcement. He founded Silk Road in January 2011 and ran it until it closed in 2013. His plight is grave. a good cause Among libertarians.
“He was sentenced to two life sentences and 40 years in prison. Ridiculous!'
President Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he called Ulbricht's mother to let her know about the pardon.
“I just called Ross William Ulbright's mother.” [sic] “In honor of her and the Libertarian movement that has supported me so strongly, I would like to say that I am pleased to sign a full and unconditional pardon for her son Ross,” President Trump wrote.
Ulbricht was convicted of seven charges, including drug distribution, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, and money laundering conspiracy. Prosecutors alleged that Silk Road-related deals led to at least six overdose deaths, including a 16-year-old boy in California and a 22-year-old boy in Australia. Mr. Ulbricht's lawyers argue that the deaths have not been proven to be directly related to Silk Road, and that Mr. Ulbricht was not charged in their deaths.
“The scumbags who worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics responsible for weaponizing the government against me in modern times. He was sentenced to two life sentences and 40 years in prison. That's ridiculous!'' Trump continued.
In addition to being sentenced to life in prison, Ulbricht was ordered to forfeit more than $183 million.
U.S. attorney Preet Bharara criticized Ulbricht. statement He was released after being sentenced.
“Ulbricht was a drug trafficker and criminal profiteer who exploited people's addictions and contributed to the deaths of at least six young people. Ulbricht hid that he was a cybercriminal. “It has become the face of cybercrime, but as today's verdict proves, that is not the case,” Bharara said. One person is above the law. ”
Trump promised to commute Ulbricht's sentence in a speech at the Libertarian National Convention in May.
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