When Silk Road was shut down and the site’s owner, Ross Ulbricht, was convicted of mostly drug-related crimes, there were debates about how much jail time he should receive. When he was given a life sentence, many considered it to be overboard considered he was a non-violent criminal.
But at the time of his 2013 arrest, the “war on drugs” was more popular than it is today. Libertarians in particular have been calling for Ulbricht’s release. During the Libertarian National Convention, President Donald Trump promised to commute Ulbricht’s sentence, saying that over a decade in prison was enough.
On Sunday, Ulbricht responded via proxies who control his Twitter account.
Last night, Donald Trump pledged to commute my sentence on day 1, if reelected. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
After 11 years in prison, it is hard to express how I feel at this moment. It is thanks to your undying support that I may get a second chance.
Last night, Donald Trump pledged to commute my sentence on day 1, if reelected. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
After 11 years in prison, it is hard to express how I feel at this moment. It is thanks to your undying support that I may get a second chance.
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) May 26, 2024
Silk Road was a darknet market website that allowed illicit use for the distribution of narcotics and other illegal items. Few outside those with anarchistic ideologies believe he shouldn’t have been convicted, but a life sentence without the possibility for parole is considered by many to be a symbolic move by the Obama Justice Department to dissuade future darknet enterprises.
Considering child rapists generally get far shorter sentences, putting Ulbricht behind bars for the remainder of his life seemed harsh. He was 29-years-old when arrested.
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.
