Redemption Sought: Former Ethereum Developer Virgil Griffith Fights for Reduced Sentence
Ruholamin Haqshanas
Last updated:
April 18, 2024 02:54 EDT
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2 min read
Virgil Griffith, a former Ethereum developer, has filed a request for a sentence reduction after being sentenced to 63 months in prison in 2022 for assisting North Korea in utilizing blockchain technology. The plea, presented in a letter from Griffith’s attorney Glen Garrett McGorty to Judge Kevin Castel of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 17, argues for a revision of Griffith’s sentence based on recent amendments to U.S. sentencing guidelines.
The key points are as follows:
– The letter cites a provision for a two-point offense level reduction for certain “zero-point” offenders, and Griffith’s legal team asserts that he qualifies for this reduction under the outlined criteria.
– If successful, this would adjust the guidelines range for Griffith’s sentence to 51 to 63 months, potentially reducing his term by a year or more.
– Griffith’s defense team urges the court to instruct the U.S. Probation Office to prepare a revised pre-sentence investigation report and schedule a resentencing hearing, as well as an opportunity for briefing to present updated information and arguments in support of their reduction request.
– A “zero-point” offender, as defined in the revised guidelines, refers to a first-time, non-violent offender whose crime demonstrates a lower risk of recidivism compared to others. Griffith’s defense contends that he falls within this category.
– In addition to his prison sentence, Griffith also faced a 10-year ban on export privileges imposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce in May 2023, prohibiting him from engaging in any transactions involving commodities, software, or technology subject to U.S. export regulations.
The case highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding the use of blockchain technology and the enforcement of economic sanctions, with Griffith seeking a reduction in his sentence based on recent changes to sentencing guidelines.
