… at his sentencing next week

Ross Ulbricht, convicted of being the Dread Pirate Roberts, owner and operator of the original Silk Road, is due to be sentenced next Friday. And his family would be happy to see you there.

“It would be good to have some support. I think it’s going to be very difficult,” said Ross’ mother, Lyn, who has campaigned tirelessly on his behalf. It is clearly taking its toll on her and the rest of the family and no wonder – even the “best” outcome is pretty shitty.

“20 years would be a victory, as horrific as that is for all non-violent charges,” says Lyn. “It’s the least she [Judge Forrest] can give him with the mandatory minimums”.

Even though Ulbricht’s lawyer has provided pretty compelling evidence that Silk Road provided habitual drug users with a far safer experience than their usual manner of getting drugs (the same things I pointed out in a blog in 2012, just saying’), the prosecution is pushing for a life sentence. “We hope she’ll see that 20 years of a young man’s life is sufficient,’ says his mother.

Whatever the outcome, his family will be appealing, even if it renders them destitute.

“We are being financially ruined by this and I lie awake at night wondering where we’ll get the money for the appeal,” says Lyn. “So I’m hanging in there, but it’s not the easiest phase of my life”.

Ross Ulbricht’s sentencing hearing details:

Date: May 29

Time: 1 PM

Place: Judge Katherine Forrest’s courtroom, #15A, Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse, 500 Pearl St., New York, NY.

Info also here, under What’s Next

Buy the book on the rise and fall of Silk Road, written in real time by someone who was there here