Ross Ulbricht built an empire in the shadows—a sprawling digital bazaar called The Silk Road, hidden on the dark web. There, drugs, weapons, and stolen secrets flowed freely, all paid for in untraceable cryptocurrency. To his global clientele, he was a legend: the Dread Pirate Roberts. But after a dramatic arrest and a staggering double life sentence, Ulbricht’s fate took another twist. Just days into his second term, President Trump pardoned him, sparking outrage and debate.

So, did he deserve his punishment? Did justice prevail, or was power at play? And how did a digital outlaw become the ultimate wild card in America’s justice system?

True Crime Reports is nominated for the Signal Awards for Most Innovative Video Podcast and Best True Crime Podcast. While we wait for the judges' decisions, you can help us win the listeners' vote. Vote True Crime Reports for Best True Crime Podcast.

In this episode: 

Nicholas Cristin (@nc2y), Online Crime Professor at Carnegie Mellon University

David Yaffe-Bellany (@yaffebellany), Technology Reporter for the New York Times

Episode credits: 

This episode was written and produced by Anna Staufenberg and hosted by Halla Mohieddeen.

Executive Producer: Ney Alvarez

Production Manager: Bronte Baskin

Senior Producers: Marthe van der Wolf 

Post-Production Supervisor: Andrés Rivera

Assistant Producers: Leo Danczak and Catherine Nouhan

Fact-checking by Ruby Zaman and Catherine Nouhan

Audio editing by Alan Leer

Music composition by Tom Biddle

Lead of Engagement: Aya Elmileik

Engagement Producers: Adam Abou-Gad, Munera AlDosari, and Vienna Maglio

Al Jazeera’s Head of Audio: Ney Alvarez

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube

Ross Ulbricht built an empire in the shadows&mdash;a sprawling digital bazaar called The Silk Road, hidden on the dark web. There, drugs, weapons, and stolen secrets flowed freely, all paid for in untraceable cryptocurrency. To his global clientele, he was a legend: the Dread Pirate Roberts. But after a dramatic arrest and a staggering double life sentence, Ulbricht&rsquo;s fate took another twist. Just days into his second term, President Trump pardoned him, sparking outrage and debate.
So, did he deserve his punishment? Did justice prevail, or was power at play? And how did a digital outlaw become the ultimate wild card in America&rsquo;s justice system?
True Crime Reports is nominated for the Signal Awards&nbsp;for Most Innovative Video Podcast and Best True Crime Podcast.&nbsp;While we wait for the judges' decisions, you can help us win the listeners' vote.&nbsp;<a href="https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2025/shows/genre/true-crime">Vote True Crime Reports for Best True Crime Podcast.</a>
In this episode:&nbsp;
Nicholas Cristin (<a href="https://x.com/nc2y?lang=en">@nc2y</a>), Online Crime Professor at Carnegie Mellon University
David Yaffe-Bellany (<a href="https://x.com/yaffebellany?lang=en">@yaffebellany)</a>, Technology Reporter for the New York Times
Episode credits:&nbsp;
This episode was written and produced by Anna Staufenberg and hosted by Halla Mohieddeen.
Executive Producer: Ney Alvarez
Production Manager: Bronte Baskin
Senior Producers: Marthe van der Wolf&nbsp;
Post-Production Supervisor: Andr&eacute;s Rivera
Assistant Producers: Leo Danczak and Catherine Nouhan
Fact-checking by Ruby Zaman and Catherine Nouhan
Audio editing by Alan Leer
Music composition by Tom Biddle
Lead of Engagement: Aya Elmileik
Engagement Producers: Adam Abou-Gad, Munera AlDosari, and Vienna Maglio
Al Jazeera&rsquo;s Head of Audio: Ney Alvarez
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajepodcasts/">Instagram,&nbsp;</a><a href="https://x.com/AJEPodcasts">X</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AJEPodcasts">Facebook</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGHKb8i9vTwjZkiFu6LhzsLUKFkYO60I">YouTube</a>

This is immersive true crime, done differently. True Crime Reports brings you crime stories from the global south and beyond; tales of corruption, power, and injustice that often haven’t reached headlines in the West.

Hosted by journalist Halla Mohieddeen, each week you’ll be taken to countries like Peru, South Africa, Syria, and Cambodia, hearing from eyewitnesses, journalists, and family members right at the heart of these stories.

This is immersive true crime, done differently. True Crime Reports brings you crime stories from the global south and beyond; tales of corruption, power, and injustice that often haven’t reached headlines in the West.
Hosted by journalist Halla Mohieddeen, each week you’ll be taken to countries like Peru, South Africa, Syria, and Cambodia, hearing from eyewitnesses, journalists, and family members right at the heart of these stories.

True Crime Reports

This is immersive true crime, done differently. True Crime Reports by Al Jazeera brings you crime stories from the global south and beyond. Tales of corruption, power, and injustice that often haven’t reached headlines in the West, told by those who were there.

This is immersive true crime, done differently. True Crime Reports by Al Jazeera brings you crime stories from the global south and beyond. Tales of corruption, power, and injustice that often haven’t reached headlines in the West, told by those who were there.

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