US Govt insists on full sentence for Ethereum developer
The United States government and prosecutors have insisted on applying full weight of the law on former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith’s motion to reduce his five-year prison sentence.
His conviction came after violating sanctions against North Korea.
Specifically, in a June 17 filing, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams urged the court to reject Griffith’s request to shorten his sentence from 63 months to as little as 51 months.
Griffith was sentenced in April 2022 after pleading guilty to charges related to aiding North Korea in using cryptocurrency to evade U.S. and United Nations sanctions. His current sentence would see him released in January 2026.
Williams stressed that Griffith was conscious when he assisted a hostile nation. “Griffith chose to evade the sanctions of his own country to provide services to a hostile foreign power, specifically services designed to teach and encourage the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to further evade U.S. and United Nations sanctions,” he said.
Williams stressed that Griffith acted despite being aware of North Korea’s human rights abuses and nuclear threats against the United States.
Griffith’s defence team could not sway the sentence as they argued that his actions were influenced by his obsessive-compulsive and narcissistic personality disorders, which fueled his fascination with North Korea.
Indeed, Griffith’s conduct in prison is said to be another reason to deny leniency with reports from the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan, noting several disciplinary incidents, including attempts to steal soap and tea. This shows that Griffith has not shown respect for the law.
The legal debate over Griffith’s sentence follows changes in U.S. sentencing guidelines that could potentially lower his recommended prison term.
Despite this, Williams’ filing contends that Griffith’s behaviour and the severity of his actions do not warrant a reduction.
During his original sentencing, Griffith expressed regret, claiming he had been “cured” of his obsession with North Korea.
Nevertheless, Judge Kevin Castel expressed scepticism about Griffith’s sincerity, suggesting that Griffith’s motivations were self-serving.
In addition to his prison sentence, Griffith faces a 10-year export ban from the U.S. Department of Commerce, prohibiting him from participating in transactions involving commodities, software, or technology under U.S. regulations until 2032.
Griffith’s legal team is expected to respond to the government’s opposition within the next two weeks.