On his second day back in office, President Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the illicit Silk Road marketplace, fulfilling a campaign promise to Libertarian supporters. Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison for various charges including drug trafficking and computer hacking. Trump criticized the conviction and its harshness, claiming Ulbricht was wronged by the government, and highlighted the political motives behind his sentencing. The Silk Road operated as a notorious platform for anonymous illegal transactions from 2011 until its shutdown in 2013.
At the time of his sentencing in San Francisco in 2015, Ulbricht was 31 years old. He was convicted of distributing narcotics, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiring to commit computer hacking, and conspiring to create fake identities and launder money.
"I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that...it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross," Trump posted to his Truth Social site.
The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern day weaponization of government against me. He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years. Ridiculous!"
In an indictment, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara described Silk Road as a meeting place for criminals hoping to "buy and sell illegal drugs and other illicit goods and services anonymously and outside the reach of law enforcement."
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