Pardon

Friday, January 24, 2025

I’m inspired by President Trump’s pardon of Ross Ulbricht. In fact, I intend to use what I have learned about this pardon to teach and inspire others who face the crisis of a criminal charge—or any type of crisis in life. Regardless of what we’re going through, Ross’s story shows us that if we should “fight, fight, fight,” for a better life. If we adhere to that strategy, new opportunities can open in the future.

Ross Ulbricht’s Background

Before his legal troubles, all reports depict Ross Ulbricht as an inquisitive, idealistic young man with strong libertarian values. I read that he had an interest in free markets and exchanges. Seeking a way to create an online marketplace without government interference, Ross built the Silk Road website—a platform that used Bitcoin as its primary currency. 

Though he hoped to create a “free” market space, the Silk Road became a hub for illicit drug sales. Prosecutors painted Ross as a dangerous kingpin who facilitated drug trafficking worldwide. Those depictions were typical of prosecutors. It is how they described me, even though I was only 20 when I got involved in trafficking cocaine, and neither weapons nor violence were alleged in my case. Still, prosecutors like to taint the record with accusations about being “dangerous kingpin” for people like they want to convict.

Those who knew Ross described a gentle soul with a passion for liberty, someone who never intended to be part of an international criminal conspiracy. He was in his 20s, making decisions that he later came to regret, but it was unfair to describe him as a notorious drug trafficker. It may have been more accurate to describe as a web designer.

Despite a vigorous defense, a jury convicted Ross of serious charges, including “Continuing Criminal Enterprise” (the same statute that led to my 45-year sentence). 

In Ross’s case, the judge imposed two life sentences plus 40 years—an extraordinarily harsh sentence, particularly as Ross was not convicted of any violent offense. Ross served time in USP Florence and USP Tucson. 

I visited USP Florence on at least two occasions to introduce our Preparing for Success After Prison program, though I did not get an opportunity to meet Ross personally. I did, however, correspond with his fiancée and mother, and I publicly supported his efforts for clemency.

Building a Coalition

During his 11 years in confinement, Ross never gave up hope. He expressed genuine remorse for the crime and acknowledged that the Silk Road contributed to a marketplace where drugs were more accessible. Yet rather than resign himself to the life of a prisoner, he chose to pursue a life of meaning, relevance, and contribution. He is an example of living with dignity, even though he was locked in an environment that obliterated hope. The reports show him making continuous efforts to contribute to various projects from inside prison boundaries. 

Ross’s resilience and positive mindset attracted advocates from the Libertarian and Bitcoin communities, along with others who believed in criminal-justice reform. I saw a vivid example of that support when I traveled to Washington, D.C., and spotted a “Free Ross Ulbricht” sign at American University. That kind of consistent self-advocacy and community-building helped bring attention to his case. 

Ultimately, those efforts paid off. Thanks to the coalition he built, influential people became aware of his case. They leveraged their network to bring his case to the attention of President Trump, who recognized the injustice and granted him a full pardon.

Ross’s story inspires our nonprofit to encourage one million people in jails and prisons to look to the future. Like Ross, we want people to continue striving for personal excellence. We urge everyone to document their journey by building profiles on Prison Professors Talent, which our nonprofit will fund. No person in prison has to pay us a penny.

We will do our best to bring attention to those who work hard.

My Promises and Next Steps
I make three promises to our community:

  1. I never lie.
  2. I never ask anyone to do anything that I didn’t do.
  3. I never charge anyone a penny for the work that I do.

In that spirit, I’m following Ross’s footsteps to build a coalition that will support my own petition for a pardon. In the months to come, I will work to build a stronger coalition, striving to show an example of what it means to work toward earning freedom. Through these efforts, I’ll show others how to advocate for themselves in pursuit of their highest potential.


Self-Directed Learning Question

  • What steps can you take—regardless of the crisis you’re facing—to build a support network that will help you move forward, even when the odds feel stacked against you?