NEWLY-ELECTED US President Donald Trump has given the founder of dark web marketplace Silk Road a full and unconditional pardon.
The decision has saved Ross Ulbricht from serving two life sentences after he was convicted in 2015 – with Trump labelling prosecutors “scum”.
Silk Road was used by some to sell illegal drugs, hacking equipment and stolen passports across the country through the use of Bitcoin.
It was shut down in 2013 after police arrested Ulbricht and started to investigate him over a narcotics and money laundering conspiracy.
In New York, he was convicted in a short span of two years for various charges like conspiracy to engage in drug trafficking, money laundering, and computer hacking.
Prosecutors also said he solicited six murders-for-hire.
One they alleged came against a former Silk Road employee – no evidence was ever found that any of the killings took place.
Trump announced the pardon for Ulbricht on his Truth Social platform within 48 hours of re-entering the White House.
He said he phoned Ulbricht’s mom and told her the good news.
In his social media post, the Republican also blasted “the scum” who convicted Ulbricht as he described them as “lunatics”.
On Truth Social, Trump expressed his opinion by stating, “The individuals responsible for his conviction were also part of those who misused government power against me.
“He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years. Ridiculous!”
