Posted on 10/02/2013 9:18:08 AM PDT by Pan_Yan
Authorities have arrested a man in San Francisco, California accused of operating an underground website that allowed users to purchase guns and drugs from around the world using encrypted, digital currency.
Ross William Ulbricht, also known as “Dread Pirate Roberts,” was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the Silk Road online marketplace, according to court papers published this week.
A sealed complaint dated September 27 was unearthed by security researcher Brian Krebs in which Ulbricht is accused of narcotics trafficking conspiracy, computer hacking conspiracy money laundering conspiracy and more.
According to prosecutors, Ulbricht aided in the trafficking of controlled substances from January 2011 up until last week. The authorities say that the narcotics moved through the Silk Road site included 1 kilogram of heroin, 5 kilograms of cocaine, 10 grams of LSD and 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Additionally, prosecutors say Ulbricht solicited a Silk Road user in March of this year to “execute a murder-for-hire.” The would-be victim, according to the FBI, was another use of the website who “threatened to release the identities of thousands of users of the site.”
By relying on users to conduct deals through anonymizing software and with the encrypted Bitcoin digital currency, Silk Road has made waves since 2011 as an online hub for illegal activity. Prior to being shut down, customers computer savvy enough to navigate through the site were presented with a plethora of products to be purchased using Bitcoin, including illegal firearms, drugs or, reportedly, assassins.
Why the huge deal about privacy? I got nothing to hide and neither should all good citizens.
We should have cameras and microphones 24/7 for everyone. All payments and communications tracked.
It’s worth it to stop these dang dopers. The greatest scum on the face of the earth and most serious threat to society since “rock n roll”.
damn,
Day late on that one,
I sincerely hope you forgot your /sarc tag...
Did I really need one? ;)
Inconceivable.
It still took the feds 2.5 years to find this dumbass...
This is a bad-ass drug that just kills, period. It’s not entirely his fault. The drug kills - it kills. And it’s cheap, unlike coke, which will exhaust you. Heroin gets inside you and takes over. There is nothing that will ever feel as good as that first high, and it will beg you to keep chasing. Some pull through - but few. What can we learn from this other than to tell others and remind ourselves to RUN when we see it. I am sorry for your friend and send you love.
Thank you, golux....I really do appreciate it:)
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