Former Ethereum dev Virgil Griffiths asked to complain about North Korea
In the year Former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffiths, who was sentenced to 63 months in prison in 2022 for helping North Korea with blockchain technology, has asked for a reduced sentence.
The plea came in an April 17 letter from attorney Glenn Garrett McGourty, representing Virgil Griffith, to U.S. District Court Judge Kevin Castel for the Southern District of New York.
The letter asked the court to review Griffith's sentence in accordance with the newly enacted U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Amendments, which provide for a two-point felony level reduction for certain “zero-point” offenders.
Griffith was sentenced in April 2022 to 63 months in prison and a $100,000 fine for attending a conference in North Korea and using blockchain technology to help the regime — despite economic sanctions by the United States.
The letter argues that Griffith is eligible for a two-point reduction as a “zero-point” offender under the criteria outlined in the revised guidelines.
That reduction lowers the overall offense level from 26 to 24, resulting in the revised guidelines ranging from 51 to 63 months — potentially shaving a year or more off the sentence.
In the letter, the court requested that the United States Probation Office prepare an updated pre-sentence investigation report, schedule a sentencing hearing, and allow the defense a shorter timeline to present updated information and their motion for mitigation.
“The defense respectfully requests that we provide the court with current information that would assist in imposing a sentence in the new guideline range of 51 months, if not lower.”
A “zero-point” offender is a non-first-time offender whose offense meets certain criteria for a low risk of recidivism compared to other offenders.
Related: Railgun Denies Use in North Korea as Total Amount Approaches $1B
In May 2023, the US Commerce Department imposed a 10-year export ban on Griffith, who was completing the first year of a five-year sentence.
This means that it is prohibited from conducting any transactions in goods, software or technology that fall under US export laws.
Magazine: Legislators' fear and skepticism fuel proposed crypto regulations in the US.
