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In the last few months, a petition was launched that aimed to have Ross Ulbricht released from prison. Thus far, over 100,000 people have signed the petition. This request is directly addressed to Donald J. Trump, the president of the USA. It explains that Ulbricht deserves to be freed since his investigation, trial, and sentencing were flawed.
The New Milestone is 150,000
After he reached the 100,000 mark, he is now aiming to reach 150,000. Ulbricht is currently serving a double life sentence and 40 additional years for being part of the Silk Road marketplace. He has been in prison for five years after law enforcement apprehended him in 2013 inside the San Francisco Public Library.
Since then, he and his family have tried to appeal the ruling within the Supreme Court system. They are also seeking a post-conviction relief extension. Both of these have been turned down. After their dealings with the court system seemed to have hit a brick wall, he and his family turned to Change.org. They now want Donald Trump to pardon him and let him walk out of prison. Since launching the petition four months ago, they have hit 103, 980 signatures and the number is growing.
The Details of the Petition
In the petition, Ulbricht explains how the investigation and trial for his roles in the Silk Road had many issues. For instance, he wonders how the authorities were able to gain access to the servers used by the Silk Road and conduct warrantless seizures of online traffic.
Another point he makes is that two officials were caught stealing BTC from and covering up their acts after it had been seized. Besides that, Ulbricht was denied the right to cross-examine his accusers. Witnesses were also not allowed to testify. Many other issues have emerged into how the investigation into the Silk Road took place.
He Is Hoping to Get a Second Chance
In his appeal to Trump, he says that his double life sentence for non-violent crimes was a shock to him. He notes that justice was not served in his trial. The letter says that he wants mercy and it has 100 letters from people globally defending the character of Ulbricht.
Ulbricht’s mother has said numerous times in the past that his case will have an impact on all citizens of the US. She has said that a fair trial is a framework on which freedom for the US is based. If there is no fair trial, everyone is in trouble.
What do People Feel about the Trial?
The corruption in the Silk Road case has attracted the attention of many who feel that Ulbricht’s sentencing and arrest were unfair. Besides that, numerous other trials have led people in the US to believe there is a problem with the justice system.
The petition to Trump says that Ross has hope for a second chance. He hopes that one day he can get back to his loved ones and utilize his skills and knowledge to better society.
Disclaimer
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