Trump pardons notorious drug trafficker--wait, what?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Donald Trump on Tuesday pardoned the creator of Silk Road, a dark-web marketplace where people sold heroin, cocaine, LSD, and other illicit drugs by using cryptocurrency to keep the transactions anonymous and avoid being caught by law enforcement.

Ross Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison for creating the website, in which he made millions of dollars profiting off of illegal drug sales as well as the sale of illegal services, such as computer hacking and forged documents, like passports and Social Security cards.

“Make no mistake, Ulbricht was a drug dealer and criminal profiteer who exploited people’s addictions and contributed to the deaths of at least six young people,” Preet Bharara, the now-former United States attorney for the Southern District of New York whose office prosecuted Ulbricht in 2015, said in a statement at the time.

But Trump has now pardoned Ulbricht and set him free, marking the second time in as many days that Trump let criminals back onto the street. On Tuesday, he pardoned roughly 1,500 Jan. 6, 2021, insurrectionists, many of whom violently assaulted law enforcement officers.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/1/22/2298433/-Trump-pardons-major-drug-dealer-after-vowing-to-execute-drug-dealers

[tulipsandroses]

1. At least 6 people died from buying drugs on Silk Road. Dems should be talking to their families.

No we don't want to use them the way he used the families of victims that were killed by immigrants. However, this guy was not an innocent bystander. This was not a victimless crime. He was making millions of dollars and went as far as trying to hire a hitman to take out people he thought might snitch.
He was looking for people that wanted to sell drugs on his platform.

These are his own words -

Dread Pirate Roberts 3/26/2013 18:27: Sorry for the delayed response and thank you for getting in touch. We've had some technical difficulties the past 24 hours I've had to deal with. Just to be clear, I do not owe him any money, but he has told me his situation and wants my help. I'm not entirely sure what the best action to take is, but I wanted to be in communication with you to see if we can come to a conclusion that works for everyone.
friendlychemist aside, we should talk about how we can do business. Obviously you have access to illicit substances in quantity, and are having issues with bad distributors. If you don't already sell here on Silk Road, I'd like you to consider becoming a vendor. Many people here purchase in bulk as well as retail quantities. Being a vendor, you'll have the protection that dealing anonymously in bitcoin provides, and you'll have protection against people like friendlychemist ripping you off because all transactions are conducted through my escrow. I encourage you to read the wiki and forum ... and consider becoming a vendor here.
So, if there is anything I can do as the admin here to help you get involved in Silk Road, or anything I can do to help with your situation with friendlychemist, please just let me know.

[everyonematters]

2. And in his explanation, he didn't say he did it because he thought he was innocent.

It was just because he promised to do it. What a piece of garbage.

[Diamond_Dog]

3. Apparently we have no laws in this country any more.

I never again want to hear that the Rep party is the party of law and order.

[Frasier Balzov]

4. The DOJ was holding $5 billion in Silk Road crypto.

Since Ulbricht received a full pardon, does he get this money back?

[sheshe2]

5. He was probably Junior's supplier.