Silk Road Consultant Roger Clark pleads guilty to Manhattan court

Silk Road shadow market consultant Roger Thomas Clark pleaded guilty in Manhattan Federal Court, confirmingparticipating in a conspiracy to distribute drugs.

Silk Road platform was created in January 2011years and closed by the FBI in October 2013. The site was intended for the sale of drugs and other illegal goods and services. “Transactions” were made with payment in bitcoins, and users remained anonymous.

According to a U.S. Department of Justice press release,Clark played a key role in the development of the darknet market Silk Road, providing advice on all aspects of the site. It is worth noting that the creator of Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht (Ross Ulbricht) spoke about Clark as a real mentor, who will always advise on the technical infrastructure and safe operation of the site. In May 2015, Ulbricht was sentenced to life imprisonment.

That same year, Clark was arrested in Thailand bycharges of money laundering and drug trafficking. In addition, Clark was accused of trying to organize the contract killing of a Silk Road employee who was suspected of stealing $ 350,000 in bitcoin. Clark was later extradited to the United States. The Southern District Attorney's Office in New York said the final sentence would be handed down on May 29, 2020.

“The arrest of Roger Clark shows that even sothe so-called anonymity of the darknet will not save you from criminal liability,” — said Manhattan Federal Court Attorney Geoffrey Berman.

In December, venture investor Tim Draper called for the release of Ross Ulbricht from prison, explaining his opinion that the crypto community needs such extraordinary people and their ideas.

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