The newly inaugurated president, Donald Trump, has announced the full and unconditional pardon of the founder of Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht, a dark web marketplace for illegal drugs and contraband fueled by cryptocurrency.
The founder of Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht, was convicted on charges of drug trafficking, computer hacking, and money laundering in 2015 and was serving a life sentence before the new president granted him a full pardon.
Aside from Trump, his supporters, who are libertarians, also have the view that the conviction was political and government overreach. Trump also said that he had told Ulbricht’s mother about the decision to grant a full pardon.
Silk Road, which was shut down in 2013, gave way to anonymous drug sales via the usage of Bitcoin and Tor, while prosecutors estimated more than $200 million in transactions.
Ross Ulbricht, who is sometimes regarded as “Dread Pirate Roberts,” was accused of begging for six murders-for-hire, although there has been no proof that the killings happened, though the accusation was highly criticized by Judge Katherine Forrest during his sentencing.
Following Trump’s immediate order, Ross was photographed leaving prison, holding a small vase of live flowers. He was reported to be actively involved in teaching inmates about the need to maintain positive energy, yoga, and meditation to keep hope and spirit alive.
