Officials from the United States Justice Department have penned a letter opposing the request of former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith to lessen his 2022 sentence for violating sanctions on North Korea.
In a filing dated June 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams argued against Griffith’s plea to reduce his sentence to as low as 51 months. Griffith was originally sentenced to 63 months in prison and fined $100,000 in April 2022. Taking into account the time he has already spent behind bars, Griffith is expected to be released in January 2026.
Williams stated, “Griffith made the choice to bypass his country’s sanctions in order to provide services to a hostile foreign power, specifically aiding in the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to evade U.S. and United Nations sanctions.” He further added, “Despite being aware of North Korea’s human rights violations and threats against the United States, including nuclear capabilities, Griffith proceeded with his actions.”
Griffith had spoken at a cryptocurrency and blockchain conference in Pyongyang, North Korea in 2019, where he delivered multiple presentations on how the country could utilize cryptocurrency for evading sanctions and money laundering. His legal team argued in court that he suffered from obsessive-compulsive and narcissistic personality disorders, driving his fixation on the reclusive nation.
Reports from prison officials revealed that Griffith had been disciplined on multiple occasions while incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan. Allegations included attempted theft of soap and tea, along with other minor infractions.
In April, Griffith’s legal team requested a revision of his sentence based on updated U.S. sentencing guidelines post-conviction. With the new guidelines, the court could potentially reduce his sentence range from 63 to 78 months to 51 to 63 months, making him eligible for release in January 2025.
During his sentencing hearing, Griffith claimed to have overcome his obsession with North Korea, citing the sanctions imposed on Russia following its attack on Ukraine as an example. Judge Kevin Castel remarked that Griffith lacked a fixed ideology and would likely pivot based on his self-interest.
Griffith’s legal team is anticipated to respond to the U.S. government’s letter within 14 days. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Commerce has already imposed a 10-year export ban on Griffith, prohibiting him from engaging in any transactions involving commodities, software, or technology under U.S. export regulations until 2032.