Man who sold $108m worth of Heroin and Cocaine gets 23 years in prison; Ulbricht gets life for running an operation that did, at most, $40m

http://patch.com/maryland/bowie/108m-bowie-heroin-trafficker-sentenced-prison


Comments


[95 Points] droopus:

Please. Let me tell you a story that blows them both away. I'm a geek who did five years in federal prison. Look at my posts if you're interested.

Anyway, a guy named Jack Demirjian was a taxi driver who did the JFK-Manhattan route six days a week. He picked up a fare at JFK, put his bags in the trunk and as they got onto the Van Wyck Expressway, they were surrounded by Suburbans and pulled over.

Long story short, the guy's bags were filled with amphetamine, some 40 kilos. Jack was charged as an accomplice though he knew nothing, he was a cab driver. He was offered five years and refused, demanded a trial. The result?

His fare got a USSG 5K1.1 motion (rat) for testifying against Jack, claiming the drugs were his. Jack went to trial, lost, and is doing 35 years at an FCI in Ohio.

The US legal system is a massive clusterfuck that hoovers up people like a cokehead's straw.


[71 Points] None:

Hard to believe some feel Ross Ulbricht recieved anywhere close to a "just" sentence. Even if you believe the hit story, even if he was found an accessory to sales it no where comes close to fair. This is just another case of 'abuse of power' in sending a message to others.


[48 Points] blockmains:

Feds wanted to make a big example of Ross, as he was the first big catch of the DNM era.

Note how the law in the country is hugely rigged in favor of the government and the prosecutors. Democracy my arse, Ross did not have anything close to a fair trial.


[13 Points] OGPACKS:

yeah i dont understand how he got life... he didnt even kill someone lol


[6 Points] JustAnotherChem:

Just shows how scared the US is of DNM's really.


[4 Points] None:

One was more prominent in the media than the other(also Ulbricht had higher standing since he ran a site for multiple dealers to do business), and that is literally all that maters for most things


[2 Points] imnotfrosty:

Ross' most heinous crimes were being an archetype and mounting a disingenuous defense in a federal court.


[2 Points] None:

ELI5: how do people get to possess or mass produce drugs; cartels not included


[1 Points] CookyDough:

You say this like you're disappointed he only got sentenced to 23 years in prison.


[1 Points] Schmaxx:

The feds have around a 96-98% conviction rate. When I was 18, I was caught with 980 rolls, setup by a friend a state over. My case was investigated by the feds, but ended up staying a state case. I was given 8 years, first time offender. In fact , it was 16 days after my 18th birthday. Those facts are kind of irrelevant, my point is. If the FEDS investigate you, and get an indictment, you are FUCKED. You have about a 3% chance of winning the case. Right now, I have 3 separate felony convictions (state), If I was to EVER be charged with any federal crime, whether it be possession or whatever, I would be sentenced under what is called "career criminal" statutes. Which means, I would get 240 months on top of whatever the New charge carried. All this because of three previous drug possession charges. I am non violent, never stole anything , but as far as the federal government sees it, I am some kind of career drug kingpin. More like career junky.


[1 Points] keepmyhomeclean:

Jo. Land of the free...


[1 Points] shlgn:

It is simply because they were afraid of ulbricht, they wanted to set an example.


[-9 Points] None:

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