A mother's love never dies. For Ross Ulbricht and the Silk Road case, his mother Lyn Ulbricht lives this truth every day. Instead of grieving, she channels her energy into activism—fighting for her son’s rights and against the failed drug war. She does it not just for Ross, but to change the dangerous precedent set by his two life sentences without parole.
Ross's Life in Prison: Staying Positive and Teaching GED
Lyn reveals that Ross is doing “amazingly well” by staying positive and constructive. He teaches fellow inmates to earn their high school equivalency diplomas (GED) and is studying a 1,000-page artificial intelligence textbook to keep intellectually challenged. The hardest thing he said recently was, “I’m really tired of being here.” Yet he remains an inspiration to his family. He goes to the rooftop every few days for fresh air and does everything possible to stay optimistic.
Corruption in the Silk Road Investigation: Double Standards
Two federal agents—Carl Force (DEA) and Shaun Bridges (Secret Service)—pleaded guilty to stealing Bitcoin and abusing their power during the Silk Road investigation. Bridges stole $800,000; Force stole even more. Lyn questions the integrity of the entire case: “They had the ability to change passwords, reset PINs, commandeer accounts—including DPR’s. How can the evidence be reliable?” Further, Bridges tried to change his name and Social Security number after being caught, yet received house arrest instead of jail—while Ross was denied bail under the pretext of being a “flight risk” and “dangerous.” Lyn calls this a “blatant double standard.”
The Appeal and a Broken Justice System
The appeal was filed in December and will be heard by three judges from the Second Circuit (New York, Connecticut, Vermont) possibly in spring. Lyn believes the government harshly punished Ross to send a message: “Government is about control. This wasn’t about drugs—it’s about control.” She has little faith in the U.S. justice system after seeing how the jury was manipulated: “97% of those charged never go to trial. Only 1% of the 3% who do are acquitted. Statistically, there are innocent people in jail. Without fair trials, we lose our freedom.”
Advice for Other Mothers: Take It One Day at a Time
To mothers facing similar ordeals, Lyn says: “Take it one day at a time. Move closer to visit your child—knowing they are not alone is crucial. Stay positive and have faith that this will serve a greater purpose—to shine a light on how we are losing our freedom at this digital crossroads.” She cherishes every positive moment, as it helps her avoid being overwhelmed by grief.
This interview was originally published by Bitcoin.com in September 2015.