Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht sentenced to life in prison for 'dark web' drug marketplace
Ross Ulbricht, founder of the online drug black market the Silk Road, has been sentenced to life in prison by a Manhattan judge.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Ulbricht, 31, was given the most severe sentence possible for his role in creating and running the underground marketplace.
Hidden on the so-called 'dark web', the Silk Road allowed users to anonymously buy drugs, weapons and other illicit goods, from 2011 until Ubricht's arrest in 2013.
It was shut down when Ulbricht was arrested in 2013 and he was subsequently found guilty of charges including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, money laundering and computer hacking.
According to the WSJ, Judge Forrest spent 100 hours grappling with the sentence but ultimately determined that Ulbricht was “no better a person than any other drug dealer”.
His family have reportedly told Vice News they will appeal the sentence.
Breaking: Ross Ulbricht, mastermind behind Silk Road, sentenced to life in prison. Family told @vicenews they plan to appeal. Story to come!
— Liz Fields (@lianzifields) May 29, 2015