Ross Ulbricht left federal prison in Arizona Tuesday evening, according to Bureau of Prisons records|Ygrhmn2|CC BY-SA 4.0
President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, a dark web platform labeled by law enforcement as the “most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace” on the internet.
Who is Ross Ulbricht?
Ulbricht, 40, was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 after he was convicted of seven charges, including narcotics trafficking, computer hacking and money laundering.
He founded Silk Road in 2011, and it was operational till 2013. The platform facilitated over 1.5 million drug transactions and generated $200 million in revenue. It attracted over 100,000 users, and one had to make payments through cryptocurrency.
The platform enabled nearly 4,000 drug dealers globally, offering drugs like cannabis, psychedelics and stimulants.
Ulbricht was accused of brokering over one million drug deals, generating $18 million in bitcoin commissions. Some of these transactions were linked to fatal overdoses, though no conclusive evidence was presented.
According to Bureau of Prisons records, Ulbricht left federal prison in Arizona Tuesday evening.
Legal controversy and support for Ulbricht
Ulbricht’s supporters, including his family, have long advocated for his release, citing his libertarian beliefs and vision for privacy and free markets.
The #FreeRoss movement, which gained significant traction among crypto enthusiasts, argues that Ulbricht was wrongfully held accountable for the actions of others on Silk Road.
The decision was met with praise from the Libertarian Party, which had long advocated for his release, calling it a case of government overreach.
Trump’s pardon, announced on Truth Social, fulfills his campaign promise, which he made in a speech last year.