2015 Federal Trial
Jan 13, 2015 - Feb 4, 2015
Trial transcripts from the 2015 federal prosecution of Ross William Ulbricht in the Southern District of New York, January 13 through February 4.
12 days·17 witnesses·21,002 lines
Southern District of New York · Case No. 1:14-cr-00068-KBF
Silk Road Case Archive
Silk Road was an online drug marketplace built around anonymous Tor connections and Bitcoin payments. Ross Ulbricht's 2015 federal trial centered on whether he continued operating it as Dread Pirate Roberts, with prosecutors pointing to his seized laptop, private messages and bitcoin transfers.
12trial days
142proceedings
21,002lines
44people
169locations
688evidence
Trials
The Case
Silk Road was an online marketplace that used Tor and Bitcoin to support anonymous transactions. Federal prosecutors charged its founder, Ross Ulbricht, with operating the marketplace under the name Dread Pirate Roberts.
At his 2015 trial, prosecutors relied on server records, chat logs and data recovered from Ulbricht's laptop. The defense acknowledged that he created Silk Road but disputed that he remained its operator when he was arrested.
The jury found Ulbricht guilty on all seven counts on February 4, 2015. He received a full and unconditional presidential pardon on January 21, 2025.
From the record
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PeopleWitnesses, attorneys, investigators, experts, and other people tied to testimony.
EvidenceExhibits and other evidence references discussed at trial.
LocationsPlaces mentioned in the record, with summaries and proceeding references.
SearchFull-text search across all trial transcripts.
TimelineInvestigation, trial, sentencing, appeal and pardon.
AppearancesSpeaking days and examinations across the 2015 trial.
SidebarsThe court reporter's transcribed bench conferences.
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