Former U.S. President Donald Trump has granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the infamous dark web platform Silk Road, citing his support for the Libertarian movement.
Ulbricht, 40, was arrested in 2013 for operating Silk Road, a platform that enabled the sale of illegal drugs using cryptocurrency. In 2015, he was sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years for charges including drug trafficking, money laundering conspiracy, and computer hacking. He operated under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts.”
At the time of Ulbricht’s sentencing, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara described him as a “drug dealer and criminal profiteer” who exploited addiction and contributed to the deaths of at least six individuals.
During his presidential campaign, Trump had pledged to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on his first day in office if re-elected, earning significant support from Ulbricht’s family and advocates. While the pardon was not issued on Monday, Trump announced on Tuesday evening that he had signed the clemency.
“I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that, in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, I was pleased to sign a full and unconditional pardon for her son,” Trump wrote on TruthSocial. He criticized the prosecutors involved in Ulbricht’s conviction, calling the sentence “ridiculous.”
Silk Road, described by prosecutors as an unprecedented online marketplace for drugs, was linked to six overdose deaths and five murder-for-hire plots allegedly orchestrated by Ulbricht. At his sentencing, Ulbricht expressed remorse and claimed to have changed.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ulbricht’s clemency lawyer expressed optimism that Trump would fulfill his campaign promise. “Ross, his family, and all his supporters are forever grateful to President Trump for his willingness to show mercy,” the lawyer said.
The pardon has sparked controversy, with critics highlighting the serious crimes associated with Silk Road and its role in facilitating drug abuse and violence.
