That's why the attempted murder charge is important to me. Even if we could all agree that in a "free society" none of his drug dealing and money laundering actions should be illegal, there is nothing that can justify murder.
"Even if we could all agree" that "there is nothing that can can justify murder" ("murder" being an unfortunately malleable concept), that's irrelevant. The multiple life sentences he was given have
nothing to do with the attempted murder charge. There were seven charges behind this excessive sentencing, none of which are for crimes with direct victims, unlike (attempted) murder. And convicted murderers can do less time, so
even if the attempted murder charge was somehow relevant, it
still does not justify Ulbricht's sentencing.
Three charges were for crimes related to the "war on drugs" which was a failure from the very moment it was conceived, one is merely "you're a bad guy according to us," one is ridiculous starting with the very title of it (ooooh, computer "
hacking"), and two are about government control over citizens (regarding money and identity documentation).
The charges were:
- Distribution/Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Narcotics
- Distribution/Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Narcotics by Means of the Internet
- Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics
- Continuing Criminal Enterprise
- Conspiracy to Commit or Aid and Abet Computer Hacking
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Fraudulent Identity Documents
- Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
See:
ReferenceAlso see:
8th Amendment to the US Constitution