Interview with Ross Ulbricht - Silk Road Founder
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[quote name=“chrisj” post=“30142” timestamp=“1380742856”]
So this video has nothing to do with Silk Road but it’s interesting nonetheless. Ulbricht has [url=http://www.businessinsider.com/silk-road-ross-ulbricht-alleged-murder-for-hire-2013-10]today been arrested[/url] which you probably know by now. Anyway I found this strangely interesting.
[/quote]Yeah, I was just reviewing all the facts.
This is a major blow to freedom, and while I’m sure there are many people clambering to take up the reigns, I’m concerned with what will happen to Ross. I’m hoping the EFF and Lawrence will pick this case up and provide a suitable defense.
In the mean time many innocent users who can no longer purchase the medication they need will suffer as a result of this. The timing with Atlantis also shuttering it’s operation can’t be much of a coincidence either. A black day for Bitcoin and for legitimate users of the site.
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Here’s a mirror link to interview:
[url=http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2b3_1380750540]http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2b3_1380750540[/url]
SR was an obvious target - many laws were broken in many countries.
What I find super interesting is how they found out DPR’s real identity.
How he made very simple mistakes that caught up with him.
And I also find it interesting that the SR servers were accessed/imaged and monitored.My prediction is that someone smarter than Ross will learn from his mistakes and pick up the torch.
There’s just too much money to be made. -
[quote name=“mnstrcck” post=“30159” timestamp=“1380753527”]
And I also find it interesting that the SR servers were accessed/imaged and monitored.
[/quote]
That was the most interesting part in the link you posted earlier. Wonder if the people that used the site dumped there coins onto an exchange, sold them, bought something else or the same and cashed coins out to another wallet, to cover there tracks, or just cashed out to burn the trail.
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[quote name=“mnstrcck” post=“30159” timestamp=“1380753527”]
Here’s a mirror link to interview:[url=http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2b3_1380750540]http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2b3_1380750540[/url]
SR was an obvious target - many laws were broken in many countries.
What I find super interesting is how they found out DPR’s real identity.
How he made very simple mistakes that caught up with him.
And I also find it interesting that the SR servers were accessed/imaged and monitored.My prediction is that someone smarter than Ross will learn from his mistakes and pick up the torch.
There’s just too much money to be made.
[/quote]+1 to that. Fortunately none of these trumped up charges will stick. Drug trafficking? Conspiracy? From the DEA: “Drug trafficking is a global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws.”. Notice how it doesn’t say, “Running a website” in that definition? If you run a website, and you don’t cultivate drugs, and you don’t manufacture drugs, and you don’t distribute drugs, and you don’t sell them, you’re not trafficking drugs. You’re just running a website. Could the distinction be any more obvious?
The seriously worrying bit is the whole murder for hire part, but even the evidence for that is pretty slim. Hopefully this will all get thrown out before it goes too far and we end up with another suicide by prosecution. That would be the true crime.
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I am not sure if he has yet been charged, but the document provides evidence to support the allegations that A) DPR is Ross, B) Ross ran Silk Road, was aware and supported the transactions and activities that occurred and, C) he made commissions off of said transactions which he then laundered [as the earnings would have been classified under US law as being profits from crime]. So their case is fairly clear. I don’t think the charges will be dropped.
With regards to the murder-for-hire allegations, the FBI agent himself states that no person under the claimed hit target name or age lived in the area, and no murders or homicide investigations occurred at around that time. So, although he’s not being charged with conspiracy to murder, I believe they are using that murder-for-hire plot [and whatever it may really be] as a means of further pushing the idea that Ross was knowingly involved in illicit activities and had used the possibility of violence as a means of protecting his “business”. Or they’re investigating further and will trump charges up if they do find someone who was killed. I doubt that.
EDIT: Just read he has been charged with “one count each of narcotics trafficking conspiracy, computer hacking conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, the filing said.” The document lays out all of the groundwork for the charges.
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[quote name=“mnstrcck” post=“30163” timestamp=“1380756438”]
A) DPR is Ross
[/quote]Not illegal.
[quote]
B) Ross ran Silk Road, was aware and supported the transactions and activities that occurred
[/quote]That’s questionable. If I run a message board, and you make a sale with a third party on it, am I responsible? Have I supported you? What if I tweet the link to your post? Have I supported you then? Such precedent is a very slippery slope and is likely to get shot down under the first amendment.
[quote]
C) he made commissions off of said transactions which he then laundered [as the earnings would have been classified under US law as being profits from crime].
[/quote]That’s the one that may end up sticking to him like a bad habit.
You’re right about the murder-for-hire part. I guess we’ll see what happens next. One thing is clear, this is going to be in the media for a while to come.
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[quote name=“Kevlar” post=“30164” timestamp=“1380757431”]
Not illegal.
[/quote]Not at all, but in order to charge Ross they’d have to establish the evidence supporting their belief he is in fact DPR, owner of SR. Which they do.
[quote]
That’s questionable. If I run a message board, and you make a sale with a third party on it, am I responsible? Have I supported you? What if I tweet the link to your post? Have I supported you then? Such precedent is a very slippery slope and is likely to get shot down under the first amendment.
[/quote]Not really, they establish extremely strong evidence to support the fact that Ross was aware and contributed to what was going on - he made policy changes to what could and could not be sold etc - and that’s all it takes to have the reasonable grounds to charge him with conspiracy. Aiding and abetting. That’s why they spent x pages on how the business was run, to show that he was conscious of what he was doing and was doing so with intent.
[/quote]Yeah, the document is basically a very thorough foundation for why they feel the need to charge him with what they have. Point A to Point B to Point C. J. Edgar Hoover would be proud!
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[quote name=“mnstrcck” post=“30165” timestamp=“1380757809”]
[quote author=Kevlar link=topic=3890.msg30164#msg30164 date=1380757431]
Not illegal.
[/quote]Not at all, but in order to charge Ross they’d have to establish the evidence supporting their belief he is in fact DPR, owner of SR. Which they do.
[quote]
That’s questionable. If I run a message board, and you make a sale with a third party on it, am I responsible? Have I supported you? What if I tweet the link to your post? Have I supported you then? Such precedent is a very slippery slope and is likely to get shot down under the first amendment.
[/quote]Not really, they establish extremely strong evidence to support the fact that Ross was aware and contributed to what was going on - he made policy changes to what could and could not be sold etc - and that’s all it takes to have the reasonable grounds to charge him with conspiracy. Aiding and abetting. That’s why they spent x pages on how the business was run, to show that he was conscious of what he was doing and was doing so with intent.
Yeah, the document is basically a very thorough foundation for why they feel the need to charge him with what they have. Point A to Point B to Point C. J. Edgar Hoover would be proud!
[/quote]Well it’s probablly a good think I’m not a lawyer then, huh? :P
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Neither am I, but - let’s just say I got two bullshit traffic tickets a few years ago and found out I knew shit about law and procedure. I fought them successfully and won, and have been reading case-law on a regular basis since. Stuff like this interests me. :)
Still a very interesting situation nonetheless.
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[url=https://ia601904.us.archive.org/1/items/gov.uscourts.mdd.238311/gov.uscourts.mdd.238311.4.0.pdf]This was just released[/url], and holy shit does the rabbit hole go deeper.
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[quote name=“mnstrcck” post=“30215” timestamp=“1380797104”]
[link=https://ia601904.us.archive.org/1/items/gov.uscourts.mdd.238311/gov.uscourts.mdd.238311.4.0.pdf]This was just released[/url], and holy shit does the rabbit hole go deeper.
[/quote]Wow
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I think that is what we refer to as “Banged to rights” :D
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I hope he will rot in prison forever.
Running a website like this IS a crime and it is damaging whole crypto community. -
[quote name=“mirrax” post=“30226” timestamp=“1380804527”]
I hope he will rot in prison forever.[/quote]And I only hope the same for anyone that says the same.
[quote]Running a website like this IS a crime and it is damaging whole crypto community.
[/quote]Yeah, no. Vice pushes along the wheels of change.
We’d still be trying to sell the value of crypto to people years later if not Silk Road solving a “problem” in purchasing power and distribution and value in the currency beyond that of the drugs themselves.
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[quote name=“HopeStillFlies” post=“30336” timestamp=“1380913168”]
[quote author=mirrax link=topic=3890.msg30226#msg30226 date=1380804527]
I hope he will rot in prison forever.[/quote]And I only hope the same for anyone that says the same.
[quote]Running a website like this IS a crime and it is damaging whole crypto community.
[/quote]Yeah, no. Vice pushes along the wheels of change.
We’d still be trying to sell the value of crypto to people years later if not Silk Road solving a “problem” in purchasing power and distribution and value in the currency beyond that of the drugs themselves.
[/quote]+1 on both accounts (+2?).
He’s a human being. He deserves to be treated like one. He’s not a monster, and he’s not disposable. He deserves to be loved like anyone else.
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[quote name=“Kevlar” post=“30366” timestamp=“1380930690”]
He deserves to be loved like anyone else.
[/quote]Being loved should be a human right.
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[quote name=“mirrax” post=“30226” timestamp=“1380804527”]
I hope he will rot in prison forever.
Running a website like this IS a crime and it is damaging whole crypto community.
[/quote]No matter your stance on drugs SR was an interesting idea and a good way for regular people to source decent quality safer drugs, most of the dutch stuff was lab tested, the feedback system helped to find reputable sellers, IMO alot safer than doing shady street deals. Obviously with all drugs there is a risk but other than government decriminalisation and regulated sales SR was the next best thing.
Many people will disagree with my opinions on this subject but most drug deaths are due to poorly synthesised drugs which the feedback system would soon make people aware of or overdose which is either greed or poor education of doses and tolerances.