Mainstream U.S. media outlet CBS is airing a documentary tonight on the takedown of the Silk Highway darkish internet market.

It options an interview with Julia Vie, former girlfriend of Silk Highway founder Ross Ulbricht who claims ‘Dread Pirate Roberts’ wasn’t motivated by cash — to the purpose the place he did not even personal a automotive — and that he was not a drug pusher.

In 2015 Ulbricht was discovered responsible of fees together with aiding and abetting the distribution of narcotics, fraudulent ID trafficking, and cash laundering in 2015 and obtained two life sentences plus 40 years.

There are requires his launch in an ongoing marketing campaign well-liked with some within the crypto group. Proponents claim that he should be freed as he was a first-time offender, and all fees have been non-violent in nature.

The FBI Declassified: The Harmful Journey on the Silk Highway’ goals to carry viewers nearer to the FBI investigation that took down the illicit market that introduced Bitcoin into public consciousness as the first technique of fee.

Within the documentary FBI particular brokers focus on how the Silk Highway was used for every kind of illicit exercise such because the gross sales of medicine, weapons, poisons, laptop hacking providers, and even dialogue on murders-for-hire.

Julie Vie says in excerpts launched from the documentary that she remembered him developing with the identify.

“He mentioned one thing about […] the Silk Highway in Asia […] and the way it was an enormous community […] And that is what he wished to create, so he thought it was the proper identify.”

She added that he spent “virtually 24/7” on his laptop and their relationship fell aside quickly after Ulbricht launched Silk Highway. Stating that she knew it was one thing shady, however had no thought it was as large because it was, Vie continued;

“I believe he knew he was going to get caught — and find yourself being a martyr for his trigger,”

FBI brokers engaged on the case cited drug habit and deaths as the first purpose the federal government wished to close down Silk Highway. After a number of failed makes an attempt, they lastly bought fortunate by way of a “coding error on the positioning” that in the end led them to Ulbricht.

Within the interview, Vie said that Ulbricht was not road good, including;

“He was by no means a drug kingpin […] He by no means even used the cash he made […] I imply, most kingpins purchase furs and jewels and so they’re dwelling the life. He did not also have a automotive!”

Final week america Division of Justice seized round $1 billion in Bitcoin and a handful of different cryptocurrencies from a  Silk Highway pockets that had been untouched since 2015.