The architect behind a notorious dark web marketplace has reached out to Donald Trump following his pardon and subsequent release from incarceration.
Since taking office as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, Donald Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders and presidential pardons.
Among those granted clemency are January 6th rioters, Washington DC police officers Andrew Zabavsky and Terence Sutton, who were convicted for their roles in a fatal pursuit and ensuing cover-up, as well as 23 anti-abortion activists.
Yet, perhaps the most significant figure on this list is Ross Ulbricht, a 40-year-old tech expert from Texas. Ulbricht founded and managed the dark web marketplace Silk Road from 2011 until his arrest in 2013, with his conviction following two years later.
For over a decade, Ulbricht has been incarcerated for a series of offenses, including involvement in a continuing criminal enterprise, drug distribution via the internet, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to distribute fraudulent identity documents, and conspiracy to commit computer hacking.
He was originally sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years without the possibility of parole—until now.
Advocacy for Ulbricht’s release has been persistent since his dramatic apprehension by the FBI in 2013, eventually catching the attention of the president during his campaign.
During the Libertarian Party National Convention last year, Trump pledged to liberate the Silk Road founder if he returned to power.
Ulbricht has now expressed his gratitude to Trump via Twitter.
In a nearly two-minute video, Ulbricht shared the news of his ‘full pardon’ granted by the POTUS, emphasizing the years he has already spent in prison.
“I was doing life without parole and I was locked up for more than 11 years, but he let me out. I’m a free man now,” he stated.
“So let it be known that Donald Trump is a man of his word,” he continued, placing a hand over his heart. “Thank you so much, President Trump for giving me this amazing blessing.”
Ulbricht underscored his appreciation for his release, saying: “To have my future back, to have a second chance. This is such an important moment for me and my whole family, it’s an important moment for everybody who has been working for this for years.”
Addressing his supporters, he stated: “This is a victory and it’s your victory, too. And this is an important moment for everybody, everywhere, who loves freedom and who cares about second chances.”
“So, it feels amazing to be free, to say the least, and it’s overwhelming,” he added.
He concluded by saying he will spend time with his family to ‘reunite’ and ‘heal’ but assured he would return.
“There’s a lot to talk about and I look forward to reengaging with the free world. And so once I’m feeling up to it, we’ll talk again,” he concluded his message.
Following his release and pardon, supporters have inundated social media with their reactions.
“We are so happy to see you out!” one Twitter user exclaimed, while another added: “What was done to you was outrageous and should have never happened.”
A third commenter remarked: “You deserved your freedom. Making a simple website should not be a crime.”
Jack Rhysider from Darknet Diaries also commented: “When you’re feeling up for it, I’d love to sit down with you for an interview. But get some rest, catch your breath, and let the reality sink in for a while. Enjoy yourself.”