Ethereum developer’s prison sentence reduced by 7 months

Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith received a seven-month reduction in his prison sentence this week. Griffith was convicted of violating sanctions legislation when he traveled to North Korea in 2019 to give a speech about how to use cryptocurrency and blockchain to evade sanctions.

Ethereum Developer Gets Prison Sentence Reduced

According to a July 17 filing, District Judge Kevin Castel ordered the sentence reduced to 56 months for Virgil Griffith, a Ethereum developer who was initially sentenced to 63 months in April 2022, in the United States

Factors that led to the decision to reduce Griffith’s sentence included the misconduct and difficulties he faced while incarcerated. Castel also acknowledged that the danger Griffith posed to the public in terms of future crimes had also diminished.

The judge nevertheless noted that Griffith had continued to defy the rules in prison, even though he was not an easy man to be around behind bars. Judge Castel noted, however, that since the offence committed by the appellant was extremely serious, it was necessary to impose a lengthy prison sentence.

Griffith pleaded guilty to sanctions violations in 2021, just before his trial in New York began. U.S. attorneys said Griffith knew the money could be used by North Korea to avoid international sanctions. However, Griffith’s defense attorney argued for a lighter sentence, arguing that Griffith had no criminal history and that no one had been financially affected by his actions.

Opposition to the government

Griffith’s lawyers had hoped for a reduced sentence and a sign of repentance from him, as he has expressed remorse and taken time to reflect on his actions while in custody. They described one instance where Griffith, in an attempt to escape a fight, reported to the unit officer, leading to his transfer and subsequent indictment for not being in his cell during an inmate count.

Subsequently, in April, Griffiths’ legal representatives requested a reduction in his sentence in light of changes to the U.S. sentencing guidelines. Under the new guidelines, Griffith’s recommended sentencing range could be lowered, allowing him to be released in January 2025.

However, in June, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams opposed the reduction, citing Griffith’s deliberate actions to help North Korea Knowing that the country is hostile to the United States and has a history of human rights abuses, Williams said the original sentence should stand because of Griffith’s actions to ensure similar cases do not happen again.

Prison conduct and sentence adjustments

Griffith was the victim of numerous crimes while incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan, including an attempted theft of soap and tea. Prosecutors said his actions indicated he had no respect for prison rules and should not be granted further leniency.

In addition to the criminal case, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a 10-year export privilege denial order to Griffith, which prohibits him from engaging in activities involving U.S. export-controlled products, software or technology until 2032.

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