One of the key figures of the Silk Road shadow market, which was engaged in the sale of drugs via the Internet, yesterday was sentenced to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1.6 million.
According to local prosecutors, Roger Thomas Clark, a 61-year-old citizen of Canada, known on the network under the pseudonym Variety Jones, advised Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, on all aspects of his activities. Ulbricht called Clark his “real mentor”, who inspired him and helped “create a brand that people can trust.”
Clark had previously served a prison term after he was arrested in Thailand in 2015 and extradited to the United States in 2018. Clark’s lawyer claimed that his client was poorly treated in Thai prison and experienced medical negligence in an American prison. His hearing was postponed several times due to the pandemic, limited access to legal materials, as well as injuries and diseases received while in prison.
39-year-old Ross Ulbricht, also known as Dread Pirate Roberts, is already serving a lifelong sentence after he was convicted in 2015 for his involvement in Silk Road’s management.
During its existence from 2011 to 2013, Silk Road was used by thousands of drug dealers to distribute drugs and other illegal goods and services to over 100 thousand buyers, and to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from these illicit transactions.
According to the prosecution, Clark provided Ulbricht with information on the site’s security vulnerabilities, technical infrastructure, rules governing platform users and sellers, as well as strategies for promoting and selling drugs on the network.
Clark also assisted Ulbricht in developing a deceptive cover to create the illusion that Ulbricht was not involved in Silk Road. He also gathered information to counter the efforts of law enforcement agencies in investigating the enterprise.
Additionally, Clark suggested that Ulbricht order the murder of one of his employees, although the murder was not carried out. Ulbricht paid $80,000 to the alleged hitman, believing the task had been completed.
“Roger Thomas Clark was a central figure in assisting the leadership of Silk Road and defending this digital black market,” said Damian Williams, a responsible American prosecutor.
Clark claimed that his work