Ross Ulbricht, alleged to have been the mastermind behind the online black market Silk Road, has a long road ahead of him.
As of August 21st, he’s had new charges filed against him, including narcotics trafficking, “distribution of narcotics by means of the internet”, and “conspiracy to traffic fraudulent identification documents”.
While the first two seem like they would be the same charge, they are nevertheless new charges which must be addressed by Ulbricht and his legal team. He’s already tried once to dismiss the money laundering charges against him, citing a recent federal ruling which affirms that Bitcoin is not money. However, that motion was shot down by the presiding judge, Katherine Forrest.
A new bid has emerged claiming the FBI violated protocol while investigating Ulbricht’s case, specifically his 4th Amendment rights. Regardless though, until the case is resolved, he remains in state custody.
The Stakes
Ross Ulbricht is fighting for his freedom, to be sure, but there is far more at stake than just one man.
Ross Ulbricht’s mother Lyn Ulbricht was recently interviewed at Porcfest, the Porcupine Freedom Festival in New Hampshire. She was told by attorney Joshua Dratel that “It’s traditional for the government to use high profile cases to make bad law.”
She also believes that her son’s case will set a precedent, since the issues which the case raises have never before been addressed in court. Government intrusion into the internet, privacy, money laundering, and whether website hosts are criminally liable for the actions of their users.
Watch the full interview below.
Next Steps
Roger Ver‘s recent campaign to raise funds for Ulbricht’s legal defense helped raise an enormous amount of money.
The exact numbers are unknown, but he promised $10 for each retweet.
Though Ver’s contribution will certainly offset some of the stress experienced by the Ulbricht family during this process, they nevertheless have a difficult fight ahead.
Ulbricht is currently serving time at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York. He was arrested in October of last year, and entered a plea of “not guilty” on February 7th.
His trial is set to begin November 3rd.
Ross Ulbricht's Long Road Ahead
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