Blake Benthall, one of the managers of the drug market silk Road 2.0, who used the alias Defcon, can only be prosecuted for tax crimes in exchange for their cooperation with the authorities.
The above news marks the first real picture of Benthall's fate after his arrest and the seizure of Silk Road 2.0 the 2014. The website appeared shortly after the original Silk Road was shut down by the FBI and its creator arrested Ross Ulbricht.
Χρησιμοποιώντας το ανώνυμο δίκτυο Thu για να προστατεύσει τη θέση των διακομιστών του αλλά και των χρηστών του, το Silk Road 2.0 παρείχε στους εμπόρους ναρκωτικών μια σχετικά ασφαλή πλατφόρμα πώλησης ηρωίνης, κοκαΐνης, κάνναβης και άλλων παράνομων ναρκωτικών.
Apart from drugs the “store” had everything from fake passports, to fake degrees and weapons. During its run, the site processed approximately $400.000 in sales per day.
Benthall was charged with drug trafficking conspiracy, computer hacking conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, according to the archives of the court.
A drug trafficking conspiracy can result in at least ten years in prison.
Ulbricht for example sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in creation of the first Silk Road, which involved drug trafficking, criminal organization and money laundering conspiracy.
Benthall is unlikely to face all of these charges, according to reports has η Motherboard. Ο Benthall ήταν προγραμματιστής λογισμικού και πρώην εργαζόμενος στην SpaceX.
"If the defendant fully complies with the agreements set forth in this Convention, he will not be prosecuted further by the FBI for crimes other than breaches of criminal law."
The path that Benthall followed is of course in stark contrast to his other Silk Road 2.0 partners who did not cooperate with the authorities.
In 2016, the United States sentenced Brian Farrell, (nicknamed DoctorClu), the forum moderator, to eight years in prison. Last month, Benthall co-founder and original creator of Silk Road 2.0 Thomas White was sentenced to five years in prison in Liverpool, England.
