14 DAY TRIAL // 29-year-old Ross Ulbricht, the alleged mastermind of the underground market Silk Road, has been denied bail. The prosecution has presented enough evidence to convince the judge that the man is a flight risk.
Documents obtained by Brian Krebs show that authorities have identified several fake IDs ordered by Ulbricht on Silk Road. On his computers, investigators have also found that he was trying to buy a citizenship in Dominica.
Prosecutors have presented a lot of evidence that shows that Ulbricht is in fact Dread Pirate Roberts, the operator of the underground website that facilitated the commercialization of drugs, guns, resources for cybercriminals, and even hitman services.
When they arrested the suspect, his computer was logged in to Silk Road and a page called “mastermind” was opened. The page displayed what authorities believe are money transactions made on the underground marketplace.
In addition, a journal in which Dread Pirate Roberts carefully wrote down all his actions and transactions was also discovered.
Initially, investigators said Ulbricht ordered the execution of two people. However, the journal has revealed that he actually paid for a total of six people to be taken out of the picture. Interestingly, while the hitmen had provided Dread Pirate Roberts with evidence of the executions, authorities say there’s no evidence that any of the targeted people had actually been killed.
The journals found by the feds indicate that the Silk Road mastermind agreed to pay $500,000 (€371,000) to get rid of four individuals. However, since there’s no evidence that any of the targets were killed, Dread Pirate Roberts was either scammed or the alleged hitman was actually an undercover agent.
Experts have told Krebs that the second variant is more likely.
In the meantime, Ulbricht’s family and friends have launched a website called The Official Ross Ulbricht Legal Defense Fund. They hope to raise $500,000 (€371,000) for his defense. So far, they’ve only raised $2,270 (€1,700).
The man’s supporters argue that the case has far reaching implications that will establish precedent on personal and financial privacy, Internet and individual freedom, and the role of the government in people’s lives.
They claim that the government’s accusations are laughable for those who know Ulbricht.
“He is not the person depicted in much of the media, around the Internet, or in the charges against him. Ross is an honorable, caring person who is loved and admired by countless friends and, of course, his family,” they noted.