In 2015, a 31-year-old yoga enthusiast from Austin named Ross Ulbricht was found guilty of being the online drug kingpin “Dread Pirate Roberts.” Convicted on 7 counts, the judge sentenced him to life in prison. Trump pardoned Ulbricht on Tuesday and now he’s a free man after more than 10 years in custody.

Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of online drug marketplace Silk Road who became a hero for America’s libertarian movement.

The news doesn't come as a surprise, however. Trump committed to the first-day pardoning of Ulbricht when speaking at the Libertarian National Convention in May 2024. The President said the decision to pardon the Silk Road founder was "in honor" of Ulbricht's mother, who had campaigned for his release.