Carlos Fernandes On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, Damian Williams, attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, declared a two-decade-long imprisonment for Roger Clark. Clark is accused of being a high-ranking advisor to the notorious Silk Road, a darknet marketplace active from 2011 to 2013. Prosecutors maintained that Clark offered extensive counsel to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, encompassing the whole scope of the operation.
Twenty-Year Sentence for Accused Silk Road Advisor
Attorney Damian Williams and the Southern District of New York (SDNY) disclosed that Roger Clark has been sentenced to a 20-year jail term for his conspiracy to distribute enormous volumes of narcotics via the Silk Road platform. Clark, who purportedly held the senior advisory position at Silk Road, operated under various pseudonyms such as “Variety Jones,” “Plural of Mongoose,” and “cimon.”
As a key Silk Road figure, Clark is said to have guided Ross Ulbricht on matters of security, technical setup, and operational guidelines for the Silk Road. Clark is also credited with aiding Ulbricht in recruiting a software engineer to enhance Silk Road’s system. “Roger Thomas Clark played a pivotal role in steering Silk Road,” said attorney Williams on Tuesday. “Today’s verdict serves as yet another signal that illicit marketplaces, like Silk Road, lead straight to imprisonment.”
Clark’s 2015 Disclosures Point to Still-at-Large Rogue Agent ‘Diamond’
Back in September 2015, prior to his arrest in June 2018, Clark reached out to the world from his Thai refuge. Using the moniker “Plural of Mongoose,” he confessed his fugitive status on a darknet market forum known as Ganja forums. As the Thai New Year approached in April, Clark was unexpectedly contacted by an individual claiming to be an FBI agent, going by “Chrysippus” or “Diamond.”
According to Clark, Diamond, fully aware of his fugitive status, had a detailed knowledge of various specific darknet marketplace operations. Clark’s narrative suggested Diamond’s potential ties to infamous rogue agents, Carl Mark Force and Shaun Bridges. His 2015 account underscored the widespread ethical violations and the presence of double agents within the Silk Road investigation.
In an interview held in October 2019, Kathryn Haun, a former prosecutor for the Attorney General’s office, illuminated the questionable conduct of Force and Bridges, who were apprehended for their blackmailing of Silk Road administrators. Haun’s revelations highlighted the wide-spread unscrupulous behavior and deception within the Silk Road investigation, with agents like Force adopting aliases such as “Death from Above.” Haun’s expose raises the question: Would the government have amassed as much evidence without the interference and intrusion of double agents and rogue officers?
Furthermore, Clark’s revelation of “Chrysippus” or “Diamond” — an uncaught rogue officer, unlike Force and Bridges — adds another twist to the story. Similar to Force, this officer, identified as Diamond, manipulated the admins of darknet marketplaces, including those running the Agora platform. Contrary to Force and Bridges, the renegade officer known as Diamond remains uncaptured and at large.
What are your views on Clark’s sentencing and the enduring existence of rogue agents like ‘Diamond’ within the law enforcement community? Feel free to share your thoughts and perspectives on this topic in the comments section below.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Silk Road Advisor Sentence
What sentence did the Silk Road advisor, Roger Clark, receive?
Roger Clark, accused of being a senior advisor to the Silk Road darknet marketplace, received a 20-year prison sentence.
Who is the rogue officer ‘Diamond’?
‘Diamond’ is an alleged rogue law enforcement official, associated with the Silk Road investigation, who has yet to be captured. Clark’s narrative hints at ‘Diamond’s’ potential links to infamous rogue agents Carl Mark Force and Shaun Bridges.
Who was the senior advisor to the Silk Road?
Roger Clark is alleged to have been the senior advisor to the Silk Road, providing comprehensive counsel on all aspects of the operation to the Silk Road’s founder, Ross Ulbricht.
What is Silk Road?
Silk Road was a notorious darknet marketplace that operated from 2011 until 2013. It was known for being a platform for selling illegal goods, including narcotics.
Who were Carl Mark Force and Shaun Bridges?
Carl Mark Force and Shaun Bridges were law enforcement agents involved in the Silk Road investigation. They were apprehended for their extortion of Silk Road administrators, highlighting unethical conduct within the investigation.
5 comments
The game’s changed since Silk Road, but Diamond is still playing. can’t believe he’s not been caught yet. the feds need to step it up.
Man, 20 years is no joke! Silk road was a wild time, but not worth two decades in the can. this diamond dude sounds shifty too.
20 years for advice?? roger got a raw deal imo. and where’s diamond, why’s he not in cuffs?
Srsly?? diamond still on the loose? shouldn’t they be catchin him instead of sentencing old advisors.
I remembr the Silk Road, always wonderd who was behind it. now we know, its kinda scary what people can do online.