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Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

nytimes.com

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Re: Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

#431

Post by Natsu »

geetee wrote: post #417
geetee wrote: post #126

You could make an argument that the alleged murder for hire attempts were simply self defense. The consequence of being exposed is life in prison, and I don't think any of us can say with certainty how far we'd go to avoid life in prison. It's not like he was trying to have innocent bystanders murdered. If selling drugs was not a crime, there would be no opportunity for blackmail, and nobody to silence.

I knew it wouldn't be a popular angle, but maybe some counterpoints along with those down votes please?

You don't get to claim self-defense when your own illegal actions led to the situation. Nor when there isn't an immediate threat to injure you and threatening to expose your illegal actions just isn't going to cut it.

You can find further details here: http://lawcomic.net/guide/?p=864

It's written by an actual lawyer, in spite of being in comic format.

Re: Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

#432

Post by Spooky23 »

Nadya wrote: post #235
Spooky23 wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So if someone opened a website in Portugal and sold illegal drugs, weapons and stolen financial data, that person would be looking at a few months of talk therapy? Don't think so.

Context of who I was responding and what they were saying is extremely important when reading. You should give it a try! Or do you enjoy making silly strawman attacks against things that were never said? Try reading the parent I responded to once more - then my response. If it isn't clear how they correlate, focus especially on the closing sentences of the parent before reading my response to them. If still confused…

I'm capable of reading, thanks.

Drug policy and private prisons are completely irrelevant. This dude operated a massive organized criminal enterprise, and was willing to kill to protect it.

Frankly, whether he was selling stolen stereos, cocaine or moon rocks isn't really relevant in the eyes of the law.

Re: Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

#433

Post by yarou »

dragonwriter wrote: post #25
javert wrote: post #12

Gross miscarriage of justice. People have a right to buy drugs. Every single government actor involved in this case is far more guilty than Ross and, frankly, they are the ones that deserve prison. Yes, Ross should have realized you can't massively break the law and get away with it. He made a big mistake. But the mistake he made was assuming that other people were more benevolent than they really are. This young man…

> Gross miscarriage of justice. People have a right to buy drugs. Legally, they do not. If you have a problem with that, take it up with (relevant to the federal laws at issue here) the Congress.

Legally, certain people were considered less equal than others. That doesn't make the law just in and of itself.

As for having a right to drugs, every man has a right to do what they please with their body.

Re: Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

#434

Post by aaron-lebo »

Nadya wrote: post #206
aaron-lebo wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And some people may agree with you but it really has nothing to do with what Ulbricht was doing.

Please read the parent I responded to. Especially the closing statement. >If drugs were legal and treatment of abuse the focus instead of punishment Silk Road wouldn't have existed in the first place. I cited Portgual, a country where drugs are legal and the focus is on treatment of users. Giving an example of where such a system exists and works. The "war on drugs" is the wrong approach. I implied, rather indirectly…

I don't disagree with your points. I don't like the War on Drugs either. I think it is destructive.

Ulbricht was a legitimate kingpin who at least tried to have people killed. I don't have much sympathy for him and I'd rather distance his actions from real issues with the War on Drugs.

I still disagree that Portugal's policies regarding users is that relevant here. You are right in what you are saying, though.

Re: Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

#435

Post by markbnj »

The dual solicitations of murder put him well off the list of people I will ever have any sympathy for. Having said that, he's 31 and reading "two life sentences" and "no chance of parole," was a little bit of a shock. He didn't actually kill anyone and I would guess some actual murderers have served less time. I can't help but feel this is mostly meant as a warning to any other smart guy who might think about setting up a black market.

Re: Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

#436

Post by markbnj »

markbnj wrote: post #435

The dual solicitations of murder put him well off the list of people I will ever have any sympathy for. Having said that, he's 31 and reading "two life sentences" and "no chance of parole," was a little bit of a shock. He didn't actually kill anyone and I would guess some actual murderers have served less time. I can't help but feel this is mostly meant as a warning to any other smart guy who might think about settin…

Shoot this is a repost thread. Didn't notice the older one before replying.

Re: Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

#437

Post by themartorana »

markbnj wrote: post #435

The dual solicitations of murder put him well off the list of people I will ever have any sympathy for. Having said that, he's 31 and reading "two life sentences" and "no chance of parole," was a little bit of a shock. He didn't actually kill anyone and I would guess some actual murderers have served less time. I can't help but feel this is mostly meant as a warning to any other smart guy who might think about settin…

I'm very against making examples of people. Justice should be dealt entirely equally. Punishing one person more harshly as a warning to hypothetical criminals with a like mind is an unequal application of justice.

I didn't know he had solicited murder (it's not mentioned in the short article linked) so I was wondering what made a glorified drug dealer middleman deserve life in prison.

I agree that "without parole" is ridiculous.

Re: Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

#438

Post by Andrenid »

> The 31-year-old physics graduate and former boy scout was handed five sentences: one for 20 years, one for 15 years, one for five and two for life. All are to be served concurrently with no chance of parole.

Meanwhile:

> Hu Wanlin was in prison for human trafficking. That didn't stop him from opening a medical practice while jailed. Once he was released after a retrial in 1997, Hu treated hundreds of patients with an herbal remedy that actually contained sodium sulphate. 146 people died of his treatments. He was arrested in 1999 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for practicing medicine without a license.

146 people dead.. 15 years in prison.

Run a website that helps people connect with drug dealers.. multiple life sentences.

Re: Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison

#439

Post by JoeAltmaier »

mordocai wrote: post #169
nemo44x wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are willing to consider murdering your business competition, you are probably a sociopath.

Actually, considering something has nothing to do with being a sociopath. Neither does doing something. A lack of conscience is a hallmark of a sociopath. Killing someone does not make you a sociopath. Showing no signs of conscience over the killing points toward you being a sociopath.

He was sentenced to the maximum for consistently showing no remorse for any of his actions. Thus, sociopath.
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