Alleged Silk Road 2.0 ‘key assistant’ charged

A 26-year-old man has been charged with three counts of conspiracy for his alleged role in running Silk Road 2.0, which launched shortly after the demise of the first iteration of the infamous underground market.

Brian Richard Farrell, of Bellevue, Washington, is charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine in U.S. District Court in Seattle, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Agents seized US$35,000 in cash, silver bullion and drug paraphernalia from Farrell’s residence when he was arrested last week, the DOJ said.

Farrell is accused of being a “key assistant” to Blake Benthall, whom authorities allege ran Silk Road 2.0. Benthall was arrested in November 2014 in San Francisco.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here