Silk Road was one of the most notorious marketplaces on the dark web, where users could buy and sell drugs, weapons, and other illegal items using cryptocurrency. It operated under the alias of “Dread Pirate Roberts,” who was later revealed to be Ross Ulbricht. In 2013, the FBI shut down Silk Road and arrested Ulbricht, who was eventually sentenced to life in prison. But the story of Silk Road did not end with Ulbricht’s arrest. Instead, it continued with the case of James Ellingson, who was recently charged with narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and murder-for-hire.
Ellingson, who allegedly went by the aliases “redandwhite,” “MarijuanaIsMyMuse,” and “Lucydrop” on Silk Road, was accused of dealing cocaine, LSD, ecstasy, and marijuana. But that was not all. According to Manhattan federal prosecutors, Ellingson also accepted more than $500,000 worth of bitcoin from Ulbricht to carry out a series of murders, which he may not have completed.
Federal prosecutors portrayed Ellingson as a man who exaggerated his influence and abilities, claiming to have control over most drug trafficking in Western Canada. In 2013, Ellingson first contacted Ulbricht to discuss someone who had threatened to leak drug trafficker and customer information.
Ulbricht allegedly responded, “I wouldn’t mind if he was executed. I would like to put a bounty on his head if it’s not too much trouble for you.”
Ellingson allegedly replied, “A ‘clean’ kill would cost Ulbricht ‘300k+ USD.’ Prices pay for 2 professional hitters including their travel expenses and work they put in.”
The federal prosecutors stated that there was no evidence that Ellingson ever carried out the murders Ulbricht allegedly paid him for. However, a thumbnail of a deleted photograph, which purportedly depicted a man lying on a floor in a pool of blood with tape over his mouth, was recovered from Ulbricht’s laptop after his arrest.
The case of James Ellingson’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking, money laundering, and solicitation of murder on Silk Road highlights the dangers and complexities of the dark web. Despite Ellingson’s grandiose claims of influence and control, it appears that he ultimately failed to carry out the murder-for-hire scheme he had allegedly agreed to with Ross Ulbricht. Nevertheless, his alleged involvement in the illicit drug trade and use of cryptocurrency to launder money underscores the need for continued vigilance and enforcement efforts to combat the dark web’s illicit activities.
As technology advances and criminals become more sophisticated, it is crucial for law enforcement and policymakers to stay abreast of emerging threats and to work together to prevent harm to individuals and society at large.
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