Ethereum Developer Jailed for North Korea Visit has Sentence Reduced by 7 Months

TLDR

Former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith’s prison sentence has been reduced by 7 months.
Griffith was originally sentenced to 63 months for violating US sanctions on North Korea.
A federal judge agreed to reduce his sentence to 56 months, effective August 2.
Griffith pleaded guilty in 2021 to charges related to a 2019 cryptocurrency conference in North Korea.
The judge noted Griffith’s lack of criminal history and hardships faced in prison when reducing the sentence.

Virgil Griffith, a former Ethereum developer, is set to be released from prison earlier than expected after a federal judge agreed to reduce his sentence by seven months.

Griffith, who was originally sentenced to 63 months in prison for violating US sanctions on North Korea, will now serve 56 months following a decision by US District Court Judge P. Kevin Castel of New York.

Griffith’s legal troubles began in 2019 when he attended and spoke at a cryptocurrency and blockchain conference in Pyongyang, North Korea. US prosecutors alleged that his presentation contained information on how to use cryptocurrency to evade sanctions, a claim that Griffith’s supporters argued was merely a recapitulation of publicly available information.

MASSIVE news, frens — Virgil Griffith is coming home! Moments ago, the Court granted our motion to reduce Virgil’s sentence and Judge Castel shaved seven months off the sentence. pic.twitter.com/568nPKtOsC

— Alexander Urbelis (@aurbelis) July 17, 2024

In 2021, Griffith pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which prohibits US citizens from exporting goods, services, or technology to North Korea without proper authorization.

His guilty plea came just as jury selection for his trial was set to begin.

Judge Castel’s decision to reduce Griffith’s sentence took into account several factors.

The judge noted that Griffith had “zero criminal history points at the time of sentencing” and acknowledged the “significant hardships the defendant has experienced while incarcerated.” However, the judge also pointed out some “rule infractions” Griffith had incurred while in custody.

Explaining the decision, Judge Castel stated,

“The need to protect the public from further crimes of this defendant has somewhat dissipated, although the Court does note the defendant’s ‘rule infractions’ while in Bureau of Prisons custody.”

He added, “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.”

Griffith’s legal team had argued for a lower sentence, citing their client’s lack of criminal history and the absence of financial hardship caused by his actions.

They also addressed the rule infractions mentioned by the judge, explaining that one incident occurred when Griffith was caught out of his designated cell during a facility count after being instructed to move by a unit officer.

The US government, represented by US Attorney Damian Williams, had opposed the sentence reduction, emphasizing the seriousness of Griffith’s actions.

Williams stated,

“Griffith acted despite knowing that North Korea was committing atrocities against its own people and had made threats against the United States, including nuclear capabilities.”

Griffith’s case has drawn attention to the intersection of cryptocurrency, international sanctions, and national security.

North Korea has become increasingly associated with cryptocurrency-related cybercrime, with the Lazarus group, linked to the country, estimated to have stolen at least $3.4 billion in cryptocurrencies since 2007.

The reduction in Griffith’s sentence comes at a time when other high-profile figures in the crypto space, including former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, are facing legal consequences for their actions. .