Thursday, October 23, 2014

Hackers threaten federal judge in Silk Road founder case


A Manhattan federal judge has received chilling online death threats from supporters of the mastermind behind the notorious illegal-drug-peddling Web site Silk Road.


Manhattan federal Judge Katherine Forrest — who is set to oversee the trial of Silk Road kingpin Ross Ulbricht in January — was victimized when her home address, Social Security number and other personal details, including her photo, were posted along with ominous taunts on the underground site Hidden Wiki.


“Justice is not being served . . . Without further ado, f–k this stupid bitch and I hope some drug cartel that lost a lot of money with the seizure of silk road will murder this lady and her entire family,” wrote a foe using the name “Serving Justice.”


Another poster spat, “Katherine Bolan Forrest is the judge who is unfairly ruining Ross Ulbricht’s life and chance for a fair trial.”


“For right now just steal her identity and send her gifts in the mail. Expect phone numbers and relatives SSNs . . . in a future release.”


A federal source told The Post on Thursday that the US Marshals Service is “aware of the threat.”


“They have spoken with the judge . . . They are in the process of trying to determine whether it’s a valid threat,’’ the source said.



Judge Katherine B. Forrest



Forrest, 50, has not received additional security from the marshals so far, the source said.


She declined comment.


The postings — which were reported on the site Crypto­Coins­News — first popped up earlier this month.


They came after Forrest rejected Ulbricht’s argument that federal investigators breached his privacy by hacking a server in Iceland hosting Silk Road.


Ulbricht is accused of brokering more than $ 1.2 billion in criminal transactions using the cyber currency Bitcoin, including six failed murder-for-hire plots and the sale of cocaine, heroin and other illicit drugs over the Internet.


He is also facing charges in Maryland federal court of allegedly trying to murder a former employee he feared could become a government witness.


His lawyer, Joshua Dratel, said he and his client “obviously, and as strongly as possible, condemn” the anonymous postings against the judge.


“They do not in any way have anything to do with Ross Ulbricht or anyone associated with him or reflect his views or those of anyone associated with him,” Dratel told The Post.


Additional reporting by Jamie Schram





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