Silk Road Insider Gets Hefty Prison Sentence…
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July 12, 2023 11:48 am
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The trial of Roger Clark, known as Variety Jones, had finally concluded. …
According to sources, the former Silk Road insider has been handed down a 20-year prison sentence for his alleged role in advising Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht to hire a hitman.
Clark allegedly advised Ulbricht to order a professional hit on a Silk Road employee who reportedly stole $350,000 from the dark web network.
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The crypto community has long defended Ulbricht, who is currently serving two concurrent life sentences in prison, and efforts are currently underway to find some avenue to free Ulbricht.
WIRED journalist Andy Greenberg writes: “In a strange and dramatic sentencing hearing today, the Silk Road saga ended with the legendary dark web market’s second-in-command Variety Jones being sentenced to two decades behind bars.”
In a strange and dramatic sentencing hearing today, the Silk Road saga ended with the legendary dark web market's second-in-command Variety Jones being sentenced to two decades behind bars. https://t.co/VwlLcDJSjd
— Andy Greenberg (@agreenberg at the other places) (@a_greenberg) July 11, 2023
Blockworks provided more information:
Ulbricht’s journal, which was used in his case, said Clark was a “real mentor.” Clark helped with the infrastructure of the Silk Road — implementing the rules that governed it, as well as promotions and associated sales. He also helped Ulricht to dodge law enforcement when they began investigating the darknet.
Clark was extradited to the US to face trial from Thailand — where he was imprisoned — in 2018.
True crime writer Eileen Ormsby, who attended Roger Thomas Clark’s trial, shared details of the experience in this lengthy Twitter thread:
At the US Government's desk was FBI Special Agent Scott Stoner, and IRS Special Agent Gary Alford, the man who found "rossulbricht" gmail address on the bitcointalk forum
— Eileen Ormsby (@EileenOrmsby) July 11, 2023
He opened with attempting to get another adjournment. Judge Stein said he was "not surprised" by this request, given the many previous requests. "I have the sense Mr Clark does not want this sentencing to proceed" He denied it
— Eileen Ormsby (@EileenOrmsby) July 11, 2023
He said "Mr Clark has a reputation of being very difficult" but this was due to the harshness of his circumstances and that Clark is "very intelligent and compassionate'
— Eileen Ormsby (@EileenOrmsby) July 11, 2023
VJ "watched people being raped and tortured right next to him" in Thai prison and was seen by "an incompetent psychiatrist" who diagnosed him with conditions that could never have been diagnosed in that time
— Eileen Ormsby (@EileenOrmsby) July 11, 2023
"Roger Clark is more than the person he has been portrayed as. He got involved in Silk Road because of his political beliefs. He believed he was doing the right thing."
— Eileen Ormsby (@EileenOrmsby) July 11, 2023
The Block recently published this related story; could these wallets have anything to do with Clark?
Around 9,800 bitcoin tied to the Silk Road is on the move, according to two unconfirmed transactions. That would be the largest movement of funds linked to the now shuttered darknet marketplace in months.
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