Former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith is making headlines once more as he seeks to reduce his 63-month prison sentence for his involvement with North Korea and blockchain technology. His legal team has put forth a plea to adjust his sentence to no more than 51 months, citing new amendments in U.S. sentencing guidelines.
A Plea for Leniency
In a recent legal maneuver, Griffith’s attorney, Glen Garrett McGorty, submitted a letter to Judge Kevin Castel in the Southern District of New York, advocating for a sentence reduction based on the latest changes to the sentencing guidelines. These amendments introduce a two-point offense level reduction for offenders who are deemed “zero-point” — typically first-time, non-violent offenders who are unlikely to reoffend.
Griffith was sentenced in April 2022 after admitting to violating U.S. sanctions by attending a conference in North Korea and sharing his blockchain expertise. This violation led to a hefty penalty of 63 months in prison coupled with a $100,000 fine. The reevaluation of his sentence could potentially trim it to a range of 51 to 63 months, offering Griffith a chance to reduce his time behind bars by up to a year.
Legal Adjustments and Implications
The request also involves asking the court to instruct the U.S. Probation Office to prepare an updated pre-sentence investigation report and set a date for a resentencing hearing. This would provide a platform for the defense to present new data and arguments supporting the sentence reduction.
Furthermore, in May 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce imposed a 10-year export privilege ban on Griffith, which restricts his involvement with any transactions that include commodities, software, or technology governed by U.S. export laws. This additional sanction underscores the serious consequences of his actions, extending beyond his prison term.
