Virgil Griffith, an Ethereum developer, has had his prison sentence for violating North Korea’s sanctions reduced to 56 months.
This week, the Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith was granted a seven-month reduction in his prison sentence. Griffith was convicted of violating the sanctions law during his 2019 visit to North Korea, where he delivered a speech on the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain to circumvent sanctions.
Ethereum developer prison term has been reduced
The term of Virgil Griffith, an Ethereum developer who was initially sentenced to 63 months in April 2022, has been reduced to 56 months, as per a July 17 filing by District Judge Kevin Castel.
Griffith’s misconduct and the challenges he encountered during his incarceration were among the factors that influenced the decision to reduce his sentence. Castel concurred that Griffith’s potential for future acts of criminality had diminished.
However, the judge noted that Griffith continued to violate the rules while in prison, even though he was not pleasant to be around. Nevertheless, Judge Castel observed that the appellant’s offense is of the utmost severity, necessitating a lengthy incarceration sentence.
In 2021, shortly before his trial in New York, Griffith entered a guilty plea for sanctions violations. Griffith was aware that the funds could be utilized by North Korea to circumvent sanctions imposed by the international community, according to the U.S. attorneys. Nevertheless, Griffith’s defense counsel argued for a more lenient sentence, asserting that Griffith had no criminal record and that his actions had no financial repercussions.
Challenge to Government
Griffith’s attorneys desired a reduced sentence and a demonstration of his reformation, as he expressed remorse and took the time to contemplate his actions while in custody. Griffith reported to the unit officer in an attempt to evade a struggle, which resulted in his removal and subsequent charge of failure to remain in his cell during the facility count.
Griffiths’ legal representatives subsequently submitted an application in April for a reduction in the sanction imposed, considering the modifications to the U.S. sentencing guidelines. Griffith’s sentence range may be reduced by the new guidelines, which implies that he may be eligible for release in January 2025.
Nevertheless, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams objected to the reduction in June, citing Griffith’s intentional actions to assist North Korea. This country is hostile to the United States and has a history of human rights atrocities. Williams argued that the original sentence should be maintained in light of Griffith’s efforts to prevent the recurrence of similar cases.
Sentencing Adjustments and Prison Conduct
While incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan, Griffith was accused of attempting to take soap and tea, among other infractions. The prosecutors had argued that his actions demonstrated a lack of respect for the prison rules and, as a result, he should not be granted any additional leniency.
The U.S. Department of Commerce issued Griffith a 10-year export privilege denial order in addition to the criminal case. This order prohibits him from participating in any U.S. export-controlled commodities, software, or technology activities until 2032.
