Ross Ulbricht is a former darknet market operator who is most famous for creating and running the Silk Road market.
He was born on March 27, 1984, in Austin, Texas, and was educated at the University of Texas at Dallas and Pennsylvania State University.
Ulbricht was arrested in 2013, and two years later, a Manhattan federal jury found him guilty on seven charges, including conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to commit computer hacking, conspiracy to traffic narcotics by means of the internet and continuing a criminal enterprise (the so-called kingpin charge).
He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus a $183,961,921 fine.
Ulbricht is known as “Dread Pirate Roberts,” the owner of the shadowy online marketplace Silk Road, which allowed users to buy and sell drugs anonymously.
He was charged with narcotics conspiracy, engaging in criminal enterprise, conspiracy to commit computer hacking, and money laundering conspiracy.
As part of the indictment, Ulbricht is accused of running the website on “The Onion Router,” concealing IP addresses and hiding the locations of Bitcoin transmissions.
Ulbricht’s sentence could have been less severe, according to more than a dozen investigators and attorneys involved in the case.
Assistant US Attorney Timothy Howard, who was co-responsible for prosecuting the case, testified that no such plea offer was ever extended to Ross William Ulbricht, or conveyed to his then-counsel before Ulbricht’s indictment.
Since Ulbricht’s incarceration, more than 435,000 people have signed an online petition created by Lyn Ulbricht, Ross’s mother, to commute his double life sentence.
His supporters have also created an online campaign to raise awareness of his case and seek clemency.
Is the Silk Road founder still in jail?
Ulbricht is currently in jail serving two life sentences plus 40 years for founding and operating Silk Road, a dark web marketplace for drugs, fake driver’s licenses, and other contraband.
He was sentenced to life in prison by a federal judge in Manhattan in 2015.
Ulbricht was indicted for operating the site, which allowed users to buy and sell drugs anonymously, and was charged with narcotics conspiracy, engaging in criminal enterprise, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and money laundering conspiracy.
Prosecutors alleged that several customers died after buying drugs on Silk Road, and that Ulbricht attempted to hire people to murder people he considered a threat to his organization.
Ulbricht’s defense team has sought an appeal.
As of August 2023, there is no information to suggest that Ulbricht has been released from prison or had his sentence reduced.
