reporter andy greenburg was the first to interview him by email before his arrest. >> i felt he had a kind of libertarian anarchist philosophy and saw this not as a money making scheme but the beginning of this for mann kind. >> it allowed buyers and sellers to deal in illegal wares, primarily drugs. bitcoin was used to protect users. government used illegal surveillance methods to track him. the trial could set a precedent for how crimes were prosecuted. if successful. the government can show they have linked individuals to operating a website, and it's going to have implications for criminal gangs. >> ooul brict supporters say the case has implications for criminals and political activists, and anyone who cares about the 4th amendment. and inhibits unusual safe and seizure. >> i feel like the bill of right is on trial as much as ross is. it's concerning. it fuels my energy. i am fighting for him, of course. but it is bigger than ross. >> reporter: lofty issues are not expected to be a big part of his defense as he faces conspire itry charges. the opening argument has prosecutors rea

reporter andy greenburg was the first to interview dread pirate roberts before albright's arrest. >> he was a cyber criminal a libertarian anarchist and not just as a money making scheme but created silk road as the beginning of challenging the history of australians. >> the digital currency bitcoin, and software where you protect the anonymity of users has raised suspicions of illegal surveillance methods used to attract it. the trial could set a precedence for how online crimes are prosecuted. >> if the trial is successful and the government is shape to operate in a website on the network, then it will have implications for criminals and criminal gangs. >> ulbricht supporters say it's not just for criminals, but political activists and journalists. not to mention anyone that cares about the fourth amendment. it proilents search and seizure. >> the bill of rights is on trial and is concerning. that concern - i am fighting of course but it is bigger than ross. >> such lofty issue are not expected it be part of his defense as he faces conspiracy charges for drug dealing, computer hack

wire reporter andy greenburg was the first to interview him by email, before his arrest. >> he was more than a cyber criminal. he had this anarchy philosophy. he saw this as the beginning of this he called a new epic in the history of mankind. >> the silk road allowed buyers and sellers to deal in illegal waters illegal drugs. bit coin was used to protect the anonymity of users. his arrest raised suspicions that the u.s. government used illegal surveillance to track him. the trial could set a precedent for how on line crimes are prosecuted. >> if this trial is successful and the government has shown they can link an individual to operating a website on the network, it's going to have implications for criminals and criminal gangs. >> albrecht supporters say the case has supporters not just for criminals, but political activists and journalists who use tour, not to mention anyone who cares about the fourth amend which prohibits unusual search and seizure. >> i feel like the bill of rights is on trial as much as ross is. it's very concerning. that fuels my energy and i am fight forego my s