Trump pardons Silk Road dark web market creator Ross Ulbricht
Posted by:
Sarah Collins
President Donald Trump has granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder and operator of the infamous Silk Road dark web marketplace. Ulbricht, who has been serving two life sentences plus an additional 40 years without parole since 2015, was convicted on charges including drug trafficking, money laundering, and computer hacking. Trump referred to the conviction as “ridiculous” and communicated the pardon to Ulbricht’s mother in a phone call. The President criticized those involved in Ulbricht’s conviction as “lunatics” and hinted at their connection to the opposition against him. Silk Road, which operated from 2011 to 2013, facilitated anonymous Bitcoin transactions for illegal goods like drugs and hacking tools. Ulbricht, also known as ‘Dread Pirate Roberts,’ maintained that he aimed to create a more equitable world through the platform. Despite facing allegations of soliciting murders-for-hire, no evidence was found. Trump had previously promised to commute Ulbricht’s sentence if reelected, a pledge shared in May 2024. No additional statements have been provided by either Trump or Ulbricht following the pardon.
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