Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the now-defunct darknet drug market Silk Road, thanked President Donald Trump for his pardon in a video posted on social media. Ulbricht, also known as “Dread Pirate Roberts,” was arrested in 2013 for his role in creating an online marketplace that connected drug dealers and others committing illegal activities. He was sentenced to life without parole.
In the video, Ulbricht expressed his gratitude to Trump and hinted at his plans for the future, stating that he is looking forward to “re-engaging with the free world” and that the pardon was a “victory” for those who “love freedom and who care about second chances.”
Ulbricht’s family had campaigned for years to secure his release, and they shared a statement on the website FreeRoss.org, expressing their gratitude to Trump and all those who had supported them.
Trump had announced earlier that he had signed a full and unconditional pardon of Ulbricht, citing the Libertarian Movement’s support for him. He also criticized the prosecution, calling it “ridiculous” and comparing it to the “modern day weaponization of government against me.”
Ulbricht’s video concluded with a message to Trump, saying “Let it be known that Donald Trump is a man of his word. Thank you so much President Trump for giving me this amazing blessing.”