“I believe we are at the tipping point in history, we are at a crossroads, and we can either go towards more innovation, freedom and free choice or we’re going to have to take the crossroad of surveillance state, government control and suppression… It’s time to decide.”

— Lyn Ulbricht

Location: Tucson
Date: Tuesday, November 26th 2019
Company: Free Ross Ulbricht
Role: CEO

As a passionate libertarian with a belief in the free market, voluntary association and trade, Ross Ulbricht created an environment for this. The Silk Road was an online marketplace which allowed for the free trade of items which did not cause harm to others, providing anonymity to both buyers and sellers.

Known as a darknet marketplace, the Silk Road was the first of its kind and proved hugely popular. Made possible using Tor to protect browsing and Bitcoin to allow for exchange, the Silk Road grew at a rate which any silicon valley VC would have been desperate to inject capital into. But as the Silk Road allowed for the trade of items which the states deem harmful, the site came under the scrutiny of the FBI.

Ross went to great lengths to remain anonymous, operating under the name Dread Pirate Roberts and became a main target for a number of law enforcement agencies. In October 2013 Ross was arrested at the Glen Park branch of the San Francisco Public Library, at which point the site had facilitated over 1 million transactions.

Ross was charged with money laundering, computer hacking, and conspiracy to traffic narcotics and was eventually found guilty on all counts. For these crimes, he was sentenced to double life imprisonment plus forty years with no chance of parole.

Ross has appealed his sentence but each appeal has been rejected and now his only chance of freedom is a presidential pardon.

The case divides people. There are those who believe Ross facilitated crime and thus deserves to be in prison and others who see how Ross created something which led to harm reduction in against the backdrop of a failed war on drugs:
- Reducing violent crime associated with drug gangs
- Reducing the danger of street drug sales
- The rating system that was developed to increase trust in the product
- Forums which helped with addiction and safe consumption

Ross’ mother Lyn has campaigned tirelessly for his freedom which has taken her on a journey beyond the injustice of his punishment. Lyn also now campaigns for prison reform and the removal of non-violent criminals from the prison system.

In this interview with Lyn we discuss the #FreeRoss campaign, the Silk Road, Ross’ case and the broken US correctional system.

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Timestamps:
- 02:09 - Lyn’s introduction
- 03:01 - Welcoming Lyn to the show
- 04:10 - An update on Ross
- 07:37 - The dramatisation of the reporting on the Silk Road
- 09:01 - The backstory
- 14:22 - The legalisation and medicinal use of drugs
- 16:46 - The war on drugs
- 17:57 - Ross’ trial
- 21:25 - The false accusation of muder-for-hire
- 24:26 - The need for reform in the judicial system
- 28:12 - The appeals
- 32:50 - Rogue agents
- 35:05 - What options remain for Ross
- 40:20 - Moving from prison to prison
- 46:39 - Ross’ mental state and remaining positive
- 49:30 - The toll on the family
- 51:27 - Dealing with people who are not empathetic to Ross's situation

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