Ross Ulbricht, the 40-year-old American who launched the Silk Road darknet marketplace back in 2011, is finally set to be released after more than 11 years behind bars. This news comes directly from the Free Ross X account (formerly Twitter) and the official Facebook page. The social media accounts state:
Ross is coming home in January! We are so so grateful to [Donald Trump] for his pledge to #FreeRoss and to all those who have supported us. Here’s to this 12th Thanksgiving in prison being the last one! – The Ulbricht family.
Ross Ulbricht before his arrest on October 1, 2013, at the age of 29, in San Francisco.
The campaign to free Ulbricht has been relentless ever since he received an extraordinary sentence: two life terms plus 40 years, with no chance of parole. Hundreds of prominent figures have voiced strong objections to what they consider an excessively harsh punishment, rallying support for a change.org petition that now boasts over 600,000 signatures urging the President to grant clemency. In a united front, 15 former federal prosecutors and Justice Department officials penned a joint letter calling out Ulbricht’s severe sentencing, stating:
We are deeply concerned that the extreme disparity—indeed, the almost mind-boggling severity—of Mr. Ulbricht’s sentence has had and will have a corrosive effect on public respect for the justice system and the federal sentencing scheme … It is clear that further incarceration is likely to serve no additional rehabilitative function in this case … We strongly support Mr. Ulbricht’s petition for clemency.
While in prison, Ulbricht has made the most of his time, becoming a model inmate by teaching math, leading yoga sessions, and helping other inmates get ready for life after release. Then, earlier this year, Donald Trump, during his 2024 presidential campaign, vowed to commute Ulbricht’s sentence once he took office. “On day one, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht to a sentence of time served,” Trump stated. “He’s already served 11 years. We’re going to get him home.”
With Trump’s upcoming inauguration, Ulbricht is finally set to be released, bringing an end to his long years behind bars. As Ulbricht prepares for release, his case showcases the powerful impact of public advocacy. For Ulbricht’s supporters, Trump’s commitment to commutation signals a landmark moment for criminal justice reform. His return home in January marks the culmination of years of relentless advocacy and a renewed hope for reformative justice in America.
