Convicted on 7 counts, the judgesentenced him to life in prison.
Trump pardoned Ulbricht on Tuesday and now hes a free man after more than 10 years in custody.
He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years.
Cards featuring images of former US President Donald Trump and Ross Ulbricht, creator of Silk Road, displayed for sale at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Tennessee, US, on Saturday, July 27, 2024.© Brett Carlsen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Under the pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts, Ulbricht ran a drug empire through the dark web site Silk Road.
To hear prosecutors tell it, Ulbricht was the brains behind the whole thing.
The charges included money laundering, drug trafficking, and computer hacking.
Ulbrichts trial hasnt sat right with many.
The prosecutors made it seem as if the Silk Road was more violent than a typical illegal drug market.
In truth, it was far safer.
Weed is legal in most of the country.
Hallucinogens are routinely used in therapy and some communities have experimented with laissez-faire drug laws.
Ulbricht going to jail didnt end the digital drug trade.
It didnt seem to have any effect at all.
Its easier than ever to buy illegal drugs online.
Less than a day after the inauguration, he made good on his word.
Newly freed, he smiled into the camera, clutching a little plant growing in a styrofoam cup.
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The drug’s maker, however, claims that it remains safe and effective.
