Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the notorious Silk Road marketplace on the dark web, was convicted on charges including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, money laundering, and computer hacking.
During his trial, prosecutors argued that Silk Road facilitated the anonymous sale of over $200 million (£131 million) worth of illicit drugs. Ulbricht operated the site under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts,” a name inspired by the character in the 1987 film The Princess Bride.
In addition to drug trafficking, Ulbricht was accused of soliciting six murders-for-hire, including one targeting a former employee of Silk Road. However, no evidence was presented to prove that any of these murders occurred.
Silk Road took its name from the historic trade routes that once connected Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. The site gained widespread attention through media coverage and discussions in online forums. Users could only access Silk Road using Tor, a privacy-focused system that conceals users’ identities and locations. According to FBI court documents, the site had nearly one million registered users, though the number of active users remains unclear.
At his sentencing in May 2015, District Judge Katherine Forrest remarked that Ulbricht was “no better than any other drug dealer.” She described Silk Road as his “carefully planned life’s work,” and emphasized that the lengthy sentence would serve as a strong deterrent for others considering similar ventures.
Ulbricht, who holds two college degrees, expressed during his sentencing that his intention was to empower individuals to make their own choices and protect their privacy and anonymity online.
President Trump had previously suggested during a speech at the Libertarian National Convention that he would consider commuting Ulbricht’s sentence. The Libertarian Party had long advocated for Ulbricht’s release, claiming that his case represented government overreach.
Following the pardon, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, a Trump ally, publicly thanked the president for fulfilling his commitment to those advocating for Ulbricht’s freedom.
On his Truth Social platform, President Trump confirmed that he had signed a full and unconditional pardon for Ross Ulbricht. Trump also shared that he personally called Ulbricht’s mother to inform her of the decision.
Silk Road, which was shut down by authorities in 2013 following Ulbricht’s arrest, allowed the illegal sale of drugs, hacking tools, and stolen passports, using Bitcoin as the primary currency for transactions.
