Ross Ulbricht, Founder of the Forbidden Silk Road Website, Granted Full Pardon by Trump
Former President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the notorious Silk Road website. This dark web marketplace was infamous for facilitating the sale of illegal drugs and was linked to the deaths of at least six individuals.
Ulbricht, now 40 years old, was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 after being convicted on seven charges, including drug distribution and conspiracy to commit computer hacking. He is now a free man. Trump stated that those who convicted Ulbricht were "crazy" and described his sentence as "ridiculous" and a clear example of government overreach.
"I just spoke to Ross's mother to inform her that, in honor of him and the strong libertarian movement that supports me, I am pleased to sign a full and unconditional pardon for her son," Trump said, as reported by BBC.
Silk Road was shut down in 2013 after law enforcement arrested Ulbricht. The site was known for selling illegal drugs using Bitcoin, as well as hacking tools and stolen passports. During the trial, prosecutors claimed that the website facilitated the sale of drugs worth approximately $200 million.
Prosecutors also alleged that Ulbricht facilitated six hitmen, including one against a former Silk Road employee, although there was no evidence that any murders were actually carried out. The site was named after the historic trade route that spanned Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.
Silk Road gained notoriety through media reports and online discussions, but users could only access the site via Tor, a system that allows people to browse the web anonymously. FBI documents indicated that the site had around one million registered users. Ulbricht was arrested in a San Francisco public library in 2013 during an undercover operation, where he was chatting online with someone he believed to be a colleague, but who was actually a federal agent in disguise.
Despite hopes that Ulbricht's harsh sentence would deter similar marketplaces, larger platforms emerged after Silk Road's closure. Trump had hinted at easing Ulbricht's sentence during a speech at last year's Libertarian National Convention. The Libertarian Party has advocated for Ulbricht's release, arguing that his case exemplifies government overreach.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, a Trump ally, praised the decision, saying, "Thank you for keeping your promise to me and others who have advocated for Ross's freedom." ⬤
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