{"id":14841,"date":"2018-01-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-29T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2019.dash.org\/2018\/01\/30\/dash-donations-now-accepted-at-freeross\/"},"modified":"2021-09-18T11:38:13","modified_gmt":"2021-09-18T11:38:13","slug":"ross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.dash.org\/news\/ross\/","title":{"rendered":"Dash Donations now accepted at #FreeRoss"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u201cThis case is the birth of law as applied to our digital future. Watch it as a spectator at your peril.\u201d
\n\u2013 Scott H. Greenfield, criminal defense attorney<\/p><\/blockquote>\nRoss Ulbricht, a 33-year old first time offender, was given double life without parole for all non-violent charges associated with creating\/operating the Silk Road website under the pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts (DPR). No victim was named at trial.<\/p>\n
Silk Road was an online marketplace designed to protect user privacy. Using the cryptocurrency Bitcoin on the TOR browser, people anonymously exchanged a variety of goods, both legal and illegal, including drugs. Prohibited was anything involuntary that created victims or used force, such as child porn, stolen goods or violent services.<\/p>\n
Who is Ross ?<\/a><\/p>\n
100 letters<\/a><\/p>\n
USP Florence Maximum Security Prison \u2013 December, 2017\u200b<\/p>\n
The Silk Road Case<\/h2>\n
The investigation, trial and sentencing were rife with corruption, abuse, and violations, including:<\/p>\n
\n
- Fourth Amendment violations<\/a>, warrantless searches and seizures.<\/li>\n
- Unprosecuted, unproven allegations<\/a> of murder-for- hire used against Ross.<\/li>\n
- Two corrupt federal investigators<\/a>, now in prison, were hidden from the jury.<\/li>\n
- Defense cross examination was repeatedly blocked <\/a>at trial.<\/li>\n
- Defense witnesses were prevented<\/a> from testifying.<\/li>\n
- Proof of evidence tampering<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Proof of DPR log-in<\/a> after Ross was in prison.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Double Life Sentence<\/h2>\n
Judge Katherine Forrest said she would give Ross \u201cthe severest sentence possible.\u201d Restrained by law from issuing the death penalty, she gave him a walking death sentence instead. Ross\u2019 appeal says there is a \u201cgrotesque disparity<\/a>\u201d between Ross\u2019 sentence and that of other Silk Road defendants and drug offenders. It is unheard of for a young man with no prior offenses and all non-violent charges.<\/p>\n
Judge Forrest used uncharged allegations to justify the sentence, in violation of the Sixth Amendment\u2019s right to a jury trial. She also violated the First Amendment by referencing Ross\u2019 political philosophy, calling it \u201ctroubling\u201d and \u201cdangerous\u201d.<\/p>\n
The draconian sentence flies in the face of the Fourteenth Amendment\u2019s Equal Protection Clause and the Sentencing Reform Act, which requires that a sentence be sufficient, but no greater than necessary. The judge never stated why the sentence was necessary. Read more\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n
Tweet by Curtis Green, alleged victim of murder-for-hire<\/p>\n
The \u201cHit\u201d that Never Happened<\/h2>\n
The prosecution alleged that Ross planned murder-for-hire, but never charged him with it. Ross denies the allegation; those who know him don\u2019t believe it; and even Curtis Green, the supposed \u201cvictim,\u201d has publicly stated he doesn\u2019t think Ross ordered a murder of anyone. Yet this smear was used to deprive Ross of bail; prejudice the jury; and bolster a barbaric sentence. That this was never ruled on by a jury or proven in court, yet used to condemn Ross to a life sentence, is a major question in the petition to the Supreme Court. Read more\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n
WHAT\u2019S NEXT<\/h2>\n
On December 22, 2017, Ross and his legal team of Williams & Connolly<\/a>, led by Kannon Shanmugam<\/a>, filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari<\/a> [pdf] to the Supreme Court, asking the Court to review and reconsider the lower courts\u2019 decisions, based on constitutional violations in the investigation and at sentencing.<\/p>\n
The petition argues that Ross\u2019 case presents two important questions of constitutional law, and has broad significance impacting both our Fourth and Sixth Amendment protections:<\/p>\n
\n
- Whether it is constitutional for the government to collect an individual\u2019s Internet traffic information without a warrant or probable cause<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Whether a judge has the right to impose an unreasonable sentence based on allegations never brought before, or ruled on by, a jury<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE<\/h2>\n
\u201cThe government is using this case as a Trojan horse to sneak in precedent that will eviscerate Internet freedoms and set the precedent for chilling new laws that would drastically change the face of the worldwide web.\u201d
\n\u2013 Paul Joseph Watson, journalist<\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe Silk Road case is about much more than one man or one website. It will have far-reaching impact in the digital age.<\/p>\n
The government uses high profile cases to set precedent and make bad law that we all must live with. The courts are grappling with how 20th Century law applies to the 21st Century, and what is decided in the courts now, in Ross\u2019 case and others, will impact us all.<\/p>\n
Important Precedents Include:<\/p>\n
Assault on Privacy<\/a>
\nIllegal spying<\/p>\nAssault on Free Speech<\/a>
\nCondemned for a philosophy<\/p>\nUncharged crimes<\/a>
\nWho needs a jury ?<\/p>\nThe failed Drug War<\/a>
\nThe government doubles down<\/p>\nExcessive sentencing<\/a>
\nCaging of Americans<\/p>\nProsecutorial abuse<\/a>
\nKings of the courtroom<\/p>\nWho\u2019s Responsible?<\/a>
\nVicarious Liability<\/p>\nLow evidence standards<\/a>
\nDigital = Reliable?<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
USP Florence Maximum Security Prison \u2013 September, 2017\u200b<\/p>\n
We need your help<\/h2>\n
This is a long, hard fight. We are up against the full force of the federal government. We are not the family of a wealthy kingpin. We are regular people battling a Goliath. We can\u2019t do this alone. We will not give up, but we have a steep mountain to climb. Please join us, not just for Ross, but against injustice and for your rights.<\/p>\n