Trump pardons Ross Ulbricht, creator of notorious dark website Silk Road
President Donald Trump has granted an unconditional pardon to the creator of the infamous dark webpage Silk Road, slamming the “scum” who persecuted him.
Ulbricht, 40, was arrested in 2013 because the shady website he founded facilitated the sale of illegal drugs using cryptocurrency.
In early 2015, he was sentenced to two life sentences plus 40 years for drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit money laundering and computer hacking, operating under the pseudonym ‘Dread Pirate Roberts’.
During his campaign, Trump promised to commute Ulbricht’s sentence “on day one” if he was re-elected, and he received enormous support from the convicted criminal’s loved ones and fans.
And while Ulbricht’s clemency was not among the many tasks Trump completed on Monday, the president announced Tuesday evening that Ulbricht had been granted a “full and unconditional pardon.”
“I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbright (sic) to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to just issue a full and unconditional pardon for her son have signed. Ross,” Trump revealed on TruthSocial.
“The scum who worked to convict him were the same lunatics involved in today’s weaponization of the government against me.
‘He received two life sentences, plus 40 years. Ridiculous!’
Ulbricht, 40, was arrested in 2013 because the shady website he founded facilitated the sale of illegal drugs using cryptocurrency

Although Ulbricht’s clemency was not among the many tasks Trump completed on Monday, he revealed on Tuesday evening that Ulbricht had been granted a “full and unconditional pardon.”
Prosecutors had described Silk Road as an unprecedented one-stop online shopping center where the supply of drugs was virtually unlimited.
At his sentencing in 2015, the judge cited six deaths from drugs purchased on Ulbricht’s site and five people he tried to kill. Ulbricht said at the time that he was a changed man.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ulbricht’s clemency lawyer said he remained hopeful that Trump would follow through on his promise to commute the sentence.
‘We do expect President Trump to grant clemency. When he was a candidate, the president said he would release Ross on his first day in office,” he said.
“We have no doubt that the president will keep his promise to release Ross. Ross, his family and all of his supporters are forever grateful to President Trump for his willingness to show mercy to Ross.”
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) had previously sent a letter to Trump noting that Ulbricht’s sentence was “disproportionate to his crimes,” adding that “the worst drug pushers on the site received significantly lenient sentences .’
Trump pledged at a rally with libertarians in May to commute Ulbricht’s sentence, sparking cheers from an otherwise distrustful crowd.
Ulbricht shared an update on X the next day, revealing that he was aware of and encouraged by the commitment.
“Last night, Donald Trump promised to commute my sentence on Day 1 if re-elected,” he wrote.
‘Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. After eleven years in prison, it is difficult to express how I feel right now. It is thanks to your unconditional support that I may get a second chance.’

In early 2015, he was sentenced to two life sentences plus 40 years for drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit money laundering and computer hacking, operating under the pseudonym ‘Dread Pirate Roberts’.

Trump pledged to commute Ulbricht’s sentence at a rally with libertarians in May, drawing cheers from an otherwise distrustful crowd

Ulbricht shared an update on X the next day, revealing that he was aware of and encouraged by the commitment

Members of the Libertarian Party stand in chairs as they chant and demand the release of Ross Ulbricht
Ulbricht had previously insisted that he did not intend for his website to turn into what it would eventually become.
He has never sold illegal substances himself, despite being convicted of drug trafficking.
“I tried to help us move toward a freer and more just world,” Ulbricht said from prison in 2021.
“We all know the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and now I’m here. I’m in hell.’