Key Points
- Former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith’s prison sentence has been reduced by seven months.
- Griffith was charged for revealing technical knowledge on cryptocurrencies and blockchain to North Korea.
Virgil Griffith, a former developer for Ethereum, has had his prison term shortened by seven months. Initially, he was expected to serve 63 months following his sentencing in April 2022 and was also ordered to pay a fine of $100,000.
Griffith found himself in legal trouble after a trip to North Korea in 2019. During his visit, he gave a presentation that disclosed technical information on how to use cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to bypass sanctions.
Details on the Sentence Reduction
On July 16, 2024, US Judge Kevin Castel signed off on a document that reduced Griffith’s prison sentence from 63 to 56 months. Judge Castel reasoned that there wasn’t a significant need to safeguard the public from Griffith. However, he also acknowledged that Griffith had some disciplinary issues while in prison.
The judge also took into account the harsh experiences Griffith had in prison. Despite this, the judge maintained that Griffith needed to be punished appropriately to uphold the law and discourage others from committing similar offenses. Therefore, the judge decided against a substantial reduction in Griffith’s sentence.
Before his trial began, Griffith pleaded guilty in 2021 to violating sanctions laws. Prosecutors argued that Griffith knowingly provided information that could assist North Korea in evading sanctions. Griffith’s legal team countered by stating that their client had never previously broken any laws and that his actions did not result in financial harm to anyone.
Griffith’s Behavior in Prison
Griffith was reported to have committed several rule violations while in prison, such as attempting to steal soap and tea at the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan. Prosecutors cited his behavior as evidence of his disregard for prison rules, arguing against leniency in his case.
Griffith was also absent during a prison cell count, another rule violation. His legal team defended him by explaining that he had been asked to leave his cell by his cellmate two days after being assigned to it. To avoid potential problems, Griffith informed his prison officer of the situation.
Griffith’s legal team explained that the officer had to relocate him until the paperwork for his permanent move was completed. However, during a prisoner count, Griffith was not in his assigned cell, which constituted another rule violation. With his sentence now reduced to 56 months, Virgil Griffith could be released by January 2025. The new ruling will take effect on August 2.
