Judge Kevin Castel has approved a reduced sentence for Virgil Griffith, a former Ethereum developer convicted of violating sanctions against North Korea.
A July 17 court document revealed that Griffith’s prison term was cut from 63 months to 56 months.
Griffith was arrested in 2019 after attending a conference in Pyongyang, North Korea, where he gave presentations on how blockchain technology could be used to bypass international sanctions and launder funds.
Did you know?
Want to get smarter & wealthier with crypto?
Subscribe – We publish new crypto explainer videos every week!
The developer pleaded guilty in 2021, receiving a sentence of 63 months in prison and a $100,000 fine by April 2022.
During his 2022 sentencing hearing, Griffith expressed that he had moved past his fascination with North Korea. Judge Castel remarked at the time that Griffith seemed more interested in his central role in the events than in any particular ideology, suggesting he could easily shift allegiances to suit his interests.
Earlier this year, Griffith’s legal team filed a motion to reconsider his sentence, proposing a range of 51 to 63 months instead of the original 63 to 78 months.
Judge Castel agreed to a slight reduction, noting that Griffith no longer poses a significant risk to the public, although he has violated prison rules, such as attempting to steal soap and tea. The judge stated:
The Court also takes note of the significant hardships the defendant has experienced while incarcerated. The need to impose just punishment for this serious offense, to promote respect for law, and to deter others from committing similar crimes, however, tilts against a substantial sentence reduction.
The crypto community has recently seen other high-profile figures, such as former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, facing legal repercussions and serving prison time.
Griffith’s case is yet another reminder of the legal and ethical boundaries within the crypto industry.
Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.