He grew rich as a result, apparently reaping “commissions worth more than $13m generated from the illicit sales conducted through the site”.
Just how big is only now becoming clear as Ulbricht contemplates death behind bars. Judge Katherine B Forrest insisted a severe sentence was necessary to send a clear signal to others. “There must be no doubt that lawlessness will not be tolerated,” Forrest declared. “There must be no doubt that you cannot run a massive criminal enterprise and because it occurred over the internet minimise the crime committed on that basis.”