Given there are at least thousands if not millions of people who "provide online forums," and pretty much this single one is in prison, I have to wonder if there's something unique about this case?
I don't know anything about this guy. Is there really nothing unique about his case?
Silk Road was, at its height, uniquely successful and making an absolute mockery of the United States government's capacity to regulate drug trafficking. In addition, he fashioned himself an anti-establishment persona, going by the handle "Dread Pirate Roberts" online.
He was unique in his magnitude of success. Governments can successfully magnify their enforcement ability by making an example of outliers.
It was a forum that mocked the government's ability to regulate drug trafficking and therefore he was prosecuted?
I find that hard to believe.
loading story #42792875
loading story #42789829
Dread Pirate Roberts is legend, look up the silk road marketplace.
Theres probably a movie or two about it too
Oh so it was a marketplace, not a forum. Like one that allowed people to openly transact illegal goods? That makes more sense.
It's weird that GP seemed to purposely obscure that.
loading story #42787841
American Kingpin by Nick Bilton is an excellent book covering Silk Road and what makes this unique