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On February 5, 2015, after a trial that garnered significant media attention and public debate, Ulbricht was found guilty on all charges. His statements to the judge highlighted a plea for leniency based on personal growth aspirations—despite being the architect behind a significant drug trafficking operation.
A Controversial Sentence and Legacy
On May 29, 2015, Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest emphasized Ulbricht’s culpability in creating a world that enabled drug trafficking and dangerous behavior, arguing that his privileged background did not exempt him from facing the full consequences of his actions.