Prosecution responded to Ulbricht's sentencing letter (link)

http://ia801506.us.archive.org/27/items/gov.uscourts.nysd.422824/gov.uscourts.nysd.422824.256.0.pdf

Frankly, he seems pretty fucked for Friday's sentencing - a life sentence wouldn't be surprising. Can't help but feel like Dratel failed him miserably.


Comments


[21 Points] None:

Sentencing will be a sad day. I only hope that most users of the DNM's know and recognize him as a martyr for the cause. He made lots of mistakes along the road but paved it in gold for a lot. Mastermind or not he gave a lot of users a path to safe drugs and a freedom to get these drugs. He gave me the freedom and access to drugs I hadn't come in contact with in 16 years.

TY Ross from a middle aged family man who refuses to go into the local ghetto to pick up some herb or some xanax from G-Money and his gang of hoodrats.


[11 Points] DancingWindAway:

“Agora,” a “dark market” currently in operation

That's a bit of an overstatement. How about 'sometimes in operation, if the stars align in a special way'


[3 Points] NotTitoJackson:

One of the people that OD'd literally died at his desk with a used syringe at his feet and Silk Road open on his computer.


[3 Points] None:

“Silk Road has already made an impact on the war on drugs. The effect of the war is to limit people’s access to controlled substances. Silk Road has expanded people’s access.” -DPR

That quote alone destroys him. Even if the case wouldn't have been political from the get-go. I wonder how his (most likely) daunting sentence will affect current markets and the courage of their admins.


[3 Points] ShulginsCat:

Wow. That letter is so well-written I'm almost siding with the gov't on this on. Almost. Except, I do actually believe people should be able to literally choose their poison.

This does, however, contain several good reminders: You should always be in good health when taking drugs. NBOMe's are extremely dangerous, and more than 1 tab is probably pushing it for most people. And, unless you know exactly what you're getting into, please stay away from H and meth. I would hate to think some people on this sub have started an addiction because of DNMs.


[1 Points] Chroncentrates:

big deal. thousands of people od everyday.. with their sketchy IRL dealer nearby...


[1 Points] StillNotLovingLE:

Not trying to be a dick here, a human death is always tragic.

But is that the worst OpSec you ever saw or what ?

Notably, some of his search queries (e.g., “how to find heroin in Boston”)

A PGP key for encrypting communications was also found, which was created on September 25, 2013; the file was titled “ilmsh“. ”Records from the Silk Road server revealed a Silk Road user named “ilmsh,”


[1 Points] Wordizbond:

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but even if he receives a life sentence, won't he have the chance to restate his case in court in a few (dozen?) years? I find it really really hard to believe Ross will spend the rest of his life in prison.


[1 Points] None:

Dratel DID fail him miserably, but he also failed himself. His own hubris tripped him up horribly.


[1 Points] None:

Most of that letter is just white noise. The important bit (to the gov) that will fuck him at sentencing is this:

II. The Proliferation of “Dark Markets” Like Silk Road Underscores the Need for a Lengthy Sentence

They want to set an example and he will most likely get the "pine box" sentence. :(

I have no idea how the United States of Terrorism courts work but perhaps there's a slim chance that Dratel MIGHT work some magic at the appeals court and get his client off on some technicality next year. My heart sobs for the Ulbricht family more than it does for Ross though.

Personally I think Ulbricht should be freed with time served, he doesn't pose a threat to society and all this time in prison has likely taught him a lot.

LIFE is a HORRIFIC and really barbaric sentence.

However, Ulbricht's hubris and delusions about his own cleverness plus that nasty habit of lying to everyone tripped him up until very recently when he finally seemed to wake up and smell the fucking gravity of the situation he was in.

I remember one of the prosecutors during the trial saying to the jury something like: "Ross still thinks he's clever and he's trying to dust off the play one last time and use it on you"

When I think of his poor mom telling everyone her son was innocent all last year I get quite angry with Ross.

I wish he'd taken a leaf out of the Peter Nash book and just popped in a guilty plea with no flurry of press or his mom telling anyone who'd listen that her precious boy was innocent and she knew that because he'd told her so.

ALL that press last year and this year really hurt the case imo.

Whatevs though. Sad times.

See you in the next life Ross.


[1 Points] nuttyboner:

Can anyone just go to the sentencing in downtown Manhattan? Or is it limited access?


[1 Points] darknetpotter:

It IS true that DNM's allow some people to get drugs they wouldn't otherwise have been able to get. I say that as one such user - I'd have no idea where to find anything apart from weed/MDMA, and pretty scared to go to dodgy places anyway to try. But online, I'm about to place my first order, and I'm already looking at what else I want to try.

BUT, and this is important - people only find DNMs if they go looking. You don't just stumble across SR and spontaneously purchase. I found a way to buy drugs online because I wanted to. I'm buying drugs online because I want to. DNMs don't just hook innocent people who never wanted drugs.

Plus, I'd suspect I'm in a smallish subset of users who's using DNMs to source drugs before really getting into drugs. I'm sure a lot of people here already used drugs, then found DMNs and used them because they're easier and safer. If they hadn't found DNMs, they'd just be doing street deals instead.

So it's a risk- benefit ananlysis - people who got into drugs from the darknet, versus all those people who were able to use drugs more safely becauses DNM doses are more accurate. Heroin addicts saved from getting H cut with fent, or people ODing on NBOMEs they thought were LSD. Or even people who get killed or whatever in doing risky street deals. I mean, I obviously think that even those who got into drugs from DNMs made their own choice and Ross etc shouldn't be blamed, but that's the government for you.


[-1 Points] None:

I was feeling bad for him until I remembered DPR hired someone to kill a former employee. (Hitman was a fed)