Trump pardons dark web ‘Silk Road’ founder Ross Ulbricht from two life sentences – and brands prosecutors ‘scum’
NEWLY-INAUGURATED US President Donald Trump has given the founder of dark web marketplace Silk Road a full and unconditional pardon.
The decision has saved Ross Ulbricht from serving two life sentences after he was convicted in 2015 - with Trump labelling prosecutors "scum".
Silk Road was used by some to sell illegal drugs, hacking equipment and stolen passports through the use of Bitcoin.
It was shut down in 2013 after police arrested Ulbricht and started to investigate him over narcotics and money laundering.
He was jailed within just two years in New York after being found guilty of charges including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, money laundering and computer hacking.
Prosecutors also said the 40-year-old solicited six murders-for-hire.
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One they alleged came against a former Silk Road employee - no evidence was ever found that any of the killings took place.
During his sentencing District Judge Katherine Forrest described him as "no better a person than any other drug dealer".
His lengthy punishment - which appeared to anger Trump - was done as a message to copycat criminals that they will face "very serious consequences".
Trump announced the pardon for Ulbricht on his Truth Social platform within 48 hours of re-entering the White House.
He said he phoned Ulbricht's mom and told her the good news.
In his social media post, the Republican also blasted "the scum" who convicted Ulbricht as he described them as "lunatics".
Trump wrote on Truth Social: "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!"
Ulbricht went by the username Dread Pirate Roberts online and ran Silk Road between 2011 to 2013.
The FBI's official website says Silk Road managed to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in sales and more than $13million dollars worth of Bitcoin in commissions.
On November 3, 2020, officials claimed they had seized more than $1billion worth of digital currency stemming from the dark web page.
The case also revealed that the website was used by thousands of users stretching from Ukraine, Argentina and even Australia.
During his court case over a decade ago, demonstrators took to the streets of Manhattan to protest over his arrest and sentencing.
Signs such as "30 years for an honest website?" and "Free Ross" were often used by groups such as the Libertarian Party to call for Ulbricht's his release.
These campaigners said the case was an example of government overreach.
Trump first hinted at a potential pardon for Ulbricht during a speech last year at the Libertarian National Convention.
Angela McArdle, the chair of the Libertarian National Committee said: “Ross Ulbricht has been a libertarian political prisoner for more than a decade.
"I’m proud to say that saving his life has been one of our top priorities and that has finally paid off."
Republican congressman and key Trump ally Thomas Massie also said he was grateful for Trump "keeping his word".
Ulbricht is still believed to be inside an Arizona jail cell with his release date yet to be confirmed.
Trump has already pardoned a blitz of people with many coming from the January 6 rioters.
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His decision to commute the sentences of those convicted in the attack on the Capitol in 2021 has been slammed by opponents.
Nancy Pelosi branded the actions as "shameful," and "an outrageous insult to our justice system."
Inside Ulbricht's double life
DESPITE being handed down the maximum sentence by prosecutors Ulbricht was never tipped as a criminal mastermind by those who knew him.
He was in Sydney, Australia for some of the time Silk Road was active with his friends saying they all believed he was simply a programmer.
Ulbricht managed to keep his illegal side hustle private until the FBI managed to link his laptop and accounts to online pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts.
He even kept it quiet from those who he lived with for six months in a house share at Bondi Beach.
A friend said he was left "absolutely gobsmacked" after learning of Ulbricht's double life.
They added: "He's the nicest guy. He said he was a programmer consulting in projects and you could do it from anywhere on the road on laptops.
"I'm totally spun out."
Ulbricht has always maintained he never wanted or planned for the website to grow into the hotbed of crime it became.
He has held onto his innocence and continues to say he never sold illicit drugs or passports himself.
In a statement from prison from 2021 he said: "I was trying to help us move toward a freer and more equitable world.
"We all know the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and now here I am. I'm in hell."