online before silk road. and since silk road has shut down, a number of other competitors have come online. it's just that silk road really had the best marketing campaign. they were able to use the media to grow their user base. >> that was specifically for drugs, but there were other things, weapons and child porn out there, right? >> yes, it can be nasty, anything that you can imagine on a black market. recreational drugs, weapons, hit pornography. >> what do you mean by hit services? >> you could find people who would do sass nag assassinationn demand, and even people who were raising money in order to perform assassinations >> it's remarkable. >> but at the same time, there were also some of the vendors on these online marketplaces are also selling things like chemotherapy drugs, and hiv drugs too. so it's a really vast array of services and products that you can buy anonymously because of using these nervouses >> let's go back for a second here, the feds have moved in on silk road and shut that down, bu

say silk road worked?>> well, silk road was essentially a speakeasy for the internet age combined with ebay. so you had to sort of be able to tap on the door and know the password, you'd get to the web site, it would be a blank page except for your password and user name. didn't even hint at what it was so you haded to nowhere you were going in order to get there. once you're inside it was anybody who visited ebay would know that that's what you were looking at once inside except what they were offering were, as you noted, illegal drugs, forged i.d.s, even ten countries supposedly had offerings of hit men. >> suarez: it's one thing to go on a web site and give your name and address and some information about how to charge you money to a place that wants to sell you shoes. it's all together a different thing to go on and tell people who want to sell you heroin or ecstasy where to find you. this stuff would come in the mail, wouldn't it? >> but the beauty of this in the eyes of the dread pirate roberts was t

him now as for the silk road website itself the f.b.i. has shut it down for good and just to give you an idea of how big of a deal this is f.b.i. special agent christopher tarbell described the silk road website to the guardian as quote the most sophisticated and extensive criminal market place on the internet today since two thousand and eleven the website generated about one point two billion dollars or nine point five million in bitcoins points are the world's most popular form of virtual currency they were the only way to buy and sell merchandise on the silk road website the big point foundation says that the closure of silk road will not affect the long term value of the currency it does affect silk road users who had already transferred bitcoins into their accounts the fed seized about three point six million dollars worth as a currency during their raid but the closure of the website will likely only slow the illegal drug trade that happens online that's because authorities say it's only a matter of time before a similar website po

heroin and cocaine along with guns were available on an online marketplace known as the silk road. 29-year-old ross ulbricht is behind the billion dollar operation. >> silk road was set up to be completely anonymous. >> here in maryland ulbricht is

the site is now offline, but as our lorie siegel tells us, the shuttering of silk road is not the endnline dealing. >> reporter: pick up mail from the post office, it's not your typical package. inside? drugs. >> going to be meth. >> reporter: welcome to the growing dark side of the internet. in a couple of clicks, drugs on your doorstep. peter, whose name has been changed, asked us to obscure his identity. >> it's basically powdered mushrooms and you can just go here and you say, hey, i want to buy 250 milligrams of it and you click the buy now thing, like any other place you are buying something online, you end up with a shopping cart and you click the mouse. >> reporter: and peter's familiar with the site. >> things i've bought are generally psychedelics, namely lsd because that's the hardest one to find on the street. >> reporter: users sign on an anonymous network where the only payment accepted is bitcoin a virtual currency worth real money. the idea is it's just not traceable. >> it's not traceable if you do it correctly, but if do it like buying bitcoins on the street or thing

as for the silk road website itself, the fbi has shut it down for good. just to give you an idea of how big of a deal this is, fbi special agent christopher tarbell described the silk road website as the most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the internet today. since 2011, the website generated about $1.2 billion, or $9.5 million in bit coins. big coin is the most popular form of virtual currency. they were the only way to finance merchandise on the silk road website. the closure of silk road will not affect the long-term value of the currency. it does affect silk road users who had already transferred bit coins into their accounts. the feds seized about $3.6 million worth of the currency during their raid. the closure of the website will likely only slow the illegal drug trade that happens online. that is because authorities say it is only a matter of time before a similar website pops up. and some already exist. >> there is an old wives tale that says when bird poop lands on you, it is good luck. but what happens when a drone falls on

authorities claim more than a billion dollars worth had been sold on the site called silk road. it's amazing how much trade. >> ross was arrested in a library here. the affidavit did not say what he was doing there but did say he had a lap top with him, which may mean he was busy running the operation. >> it's a site known as silk road. where fictitious names are used to buy ask sell elicit drugs. fbi says the mastermind behind the online drug black market. he was once quoted referring to a site as anonymous amazon.com. court documents say he generated tens of millions of dollars in commissions being the middle man for the sale of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs. yesterday, he was arrested and arraigned today in federal court on charges related to money laundering and becoming. during the investigation fbi says it made more than 100 under cover buys of drugs from silk road ventors. prosecutors say he engaged in money laundering using bit coins, a virtual occurrencey for transactions. according to documents, over the past two years, silk road used by several thou

sngs known as the silk road. >> reporter: in its three-count complaint, the government says a man known as the dread pirate robert, was able to rake in $80 million in two years through an illegal site he created. a secretive on-line marketplace for drugs. one so perfect that it could make the street corner dealer obsolete. >> i bought, i think, ten hits of lsd for me and a few friends and we biked through golden gate park and had a really amazing day, the week after. >> the government says hundreds of thousands of users like this man use the impossible to trace website which sells drugs, weapons, forced documents and even hitmen. it is called the silk road. >> we are looking at the listing for heroin china-wide. one gram. >> nicholas is a professor that spent months researching silk road. >> most people want the drugs but don't want the social interactions that come with -- and silk road takes that out of equation. >> silk road was a huge enterprise. nearly a million users bought and sold $1.2 billion worth of il

some argue silk road able to exist because it dealt in bit coins. an anonymous occurrencey has been catching on. in a pink store front, cups and cakes bakery is world famous but not for deep chocolate but this sticker. >> most customers pay cash or credit. cups and cakes accept another payment. bit coins. >> 36s stdz total. let's check out now. they scan the code it happens digitally says c net's brian coolly. you can't get a coin or paper that represents it. it's in digital accounts over the internet. >> and it's value changes by the minute. >> now, it's 117.2. >> it's electronic. >> you're operating far more out of the spotlight. being watched by hundreds. >> for the moment these are one of the few things you can buy but that hasn't stopped people from betting big in cases converting millions of dollars into bit coins. >> tech crunch writer tells us the value fell off a cliff when word got out the web site shut down. >> it was a marketplace that only accepted bit coins because they wanted to trade on silk road. >> he says there will be another sil

: they shut down silk road yesterday and he's the notorious drug lord. he did this youtube interview last year. >> i want to have a substantial positive impact on the future of humanity. >> reporter: agents arrested him in san francisco and he's charged with being the mastermind of silk road. and charged in maryland with the torture and murder of a man. $85,000 to an undercover agent after seeing staged photos of the fake torture. the investigation took two years because silk road used a cyber currency called bid coins. he allegedly designed his site outside the regular internet so his users could remain anonymous. the feds say he slipped. he used his personal e-mail and gave his real name. >> that was his fatal flaw. it was ridiculous you would put your real name out there, but that's what he did. >> reporter: he now faces life in prison. not the future he had in mind. >> you gonna live forever? >> i think it's a possibility. >> he's due back in san francisco federal court tomorrow morning to discuss bail and his transfer to new york where the bulk of t

is a perfect example of the they ended up shutting down the silk road beastly and the black market e.-bay and they actually shut that down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of people associated it associated because one just directly with the silk road and so since it's been shut down the currency did dip about ten percent for both twelve dollars and since then people realize that it's not just about the black market and it's actually a legitimate currency and it's actually gone up one hundred percent since then. the city in russia's dagestan region has been targeted by twin bomb attack latest reports two people were killed and up to fifteen injured including three policeman from the blast took place near the entrance to shops with one building bursting into flames security forces are searching for other possible explosive devices close to the scene. time now for some other world news this hour here in r.t. police have clashed with supporters of the ousted president morsi at the campus of the university in cairo the scuffles follow yesterday's

was a perfect example of the ended up shutting down the silk road that was they could be squee the black market e.-bay and actually shut down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of you will associate it associated be quiet just directly with the silk road . currency did about ten percent for bo twelve hours and since then people realize that it's not just about the black market and it's actually the currency. one hundred percent since then. and you can find out more on how bitcoin works and why it's become such a magnet for controversy to do so on our website dot com also to come up in the program here this hour a ban on big brother a group of emerging economies say they don't want to be spied on by america as they plan to build a new secure cyberspace hidden from washington's eyes. on the sochi countdown enters the homestretch. boxes of being picked off in the olympic city as clocks passed the one hundred day mark until the winter games opening ceremony. for now here on our justice seeking journey of thousands of miles for one pakistani family

. >> federal investigators say the man behind this sig:00 road web -- silk road web site was arrested at the glenn park library. he was willing to commit murder to protect his business. 29-year-old ross-william official break ran silk road. the -- olbrecht. >> in a criminal complaint silk road is a sprawling black market bazaar where illegal drugs and others have been bought and sold. 13,000 listings for marijuana, a good counterfeit goods, forged pass ports and pirated videos. the ip networks were concealed. when a user threatened to expose the web site he solis ited an assassin. way like you to put a bounty on his head. what would be an adequate amount to motivate you to find him? >> he gave $150,000 to that assassin. federal agents have found no record of homicides or suspicious deaths in that area the day that hit was supposed to take place. >> the new law funds a trial run of the smart herballance assessment -- smarter balance assessment. does away with multiple choice test replaced with new language and math tests on computers. susan bonilla says the old star testing system is o

is a perfect example of the shutting down the silk road and the black market and actually shut down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of people associate it associated big going just directly with the silk road and so since it's been shut down the currency did about ten percent for both twelve hours and since then people realize that it's not just about the black market and it's actually a legitimate currency and it's actually gone up one hundred percent since then. well you can find out much more and how it coined works on why it has become such a magnet for controversy i do so at our website don't call them still to come of the program here on r t this hour including a ban on big brother the brics a group of emerging economies say they don't want to be spied on by america they plan to build a new secure cyber space hidden from washington's eyes. on the soft cheek countdown entering the home stretch readiness boxes are being taken off in the olympic city at the clocks past the hundred day mark until the winter games opening ceremony. by five m

is a perfect example of that they ended up shutting down the silk road beastly the black market e.-bay and they actually shut that down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of people associated it associated big going just directly with the silk road and so since it's been shut down the currency did dip about ten percent for both twelve hours and since then people realize that it's not just about the black market and it's actually a legitimate currency and it's actually gone up one hundred percent since then. this is also coming up later this hour the budget of green and entry public pressure at least the british government to pledge a constant green energy taxes as the industry is accused of being too expensive and noncompetitive. on behalf of thousands of miles but they've still got a long way to get home says survivors from a cia drone strike in pakistan go to washington to tell best story more after the break. the. mission. critical free. for charges free. arrangement free. three stooges free. and free broadcast live video for your media p

is a perfect example of the shutting down the silk road and the black market. and actually shut down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of people associated it associated because one just directly with the silk road and so since it's been shut down the currency did about ten percent for both twelve hours and since then people realize that it's not just about the black market and it's actually a legitimate currency and it's actually got over one hundred percent since then and we got most always waiting on line for you right now including who is the most influential of them all russia's president putin tops forbes' annual list of the most powerful people in the world pushing barack obama down to second put him on top of the r.t. dot com. the u.k. hopes to track billions an arab investment by becoming the first european state to issue islamic bones and to come from. and also the after families and friends reunited after israel releases twenty six palestinian prisoners we called the touching pictures in our vision section that.

is a perfect example of the shutting down the silk road and even the black market and they actually shut down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of people associate associate big going just directly with the silk road and so since it's been shut down the currency did dip about ten percent for bo twelve hours and since then people realize that it's not just about the black market and it's actually a legitimate currency and it's actually gone up one hundred percent since then. and let's now go top top story on the bomb drop of a growing diplomatic ground with america's e.u. allies demanding answers of allegations that citizens as well as their leaders were spied on and we can go live now to our correspondent see there that's a nice to see you so e.u. officials are in washington what exactly is expected from them mission. well there is a delegation of the e.u. officials and separately a delegation of german officials who are in washington to speak with the members of the u.s. administration as well as intelligence chiefs to discuss this latest reve

example of the shutting down the silk road the. black market and actually shut down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of people associated it associated big one just directly with the silk road and so since it's been shut down the currency did about ten percent for both twelve dollars and since then people realize that it's not just about the black market and it's actually a legitimate currency and it's actually got over one hundred percent since then. and officials could find out more on how bitcoin watson wyatt has been going for contraband. and also coming up later in the program sochi countdown and the homestretch readiness takes off and the olympics has been one hundred day long until the winter games opening ceremony that's right. jamie the national security agency has taken months of scandal embarrassing lies to get obama and his administration to this point what is clear is the following the obama is unaware of the extent of n.s.a. surveillance or he remains untruthful to the american

raid on silk road it's an online narcotics marketplace that dealt in bitcoins mitchell demeter the chief bitcoin officer at bit quantity x.e. talk to my colleague kevin allen. we've got a policy in place where we limit users to three thousand dollars per day every transaction you make is recorded on a public ledger. but if somebody wants to find out who is making the transaction it can be done the silk road is a perfect example of the shutting down the silk road and the black market and actually shut down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of people associate associated big one just directly with the silk road and so since it's been shut down the currency did dip about ten percent for both twelve hours and since then people realize that it's not just about the black market and it's actually a legitimate currency and it's actually gone up one hundred percent since then. and you can find out a little bit coin works and why it's become such a magnet for those details on the website right now. on the way. big brother the bricks group of emerging economie

is a perfect example of the end of shutting down the silk road and the black market e.-bay and actually shut down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of people associate it associated big going just directly with the silk road and so since it's been shut down the currency did about ten percent for both twelve hours and since then people realize that it's not just about the black market and it's actually a legitimate currency and it's actually got over one hundred percent since then. under most stories waiting on line including an opportunity not to be missed the u.k. hopes to billions in arab investment by becoming the first european state to islamic bonds had to ante dot com for more. and also bad families and friends reunited after israel releases twenty six palestinian prisoners called the touching pictures and now invision section. in the u.k. is a rethinking its policy towards green energy taxation the prime minister pledge to count so-called green and levies which i'd have to some to ensure bells. went to find out why the move

is a perfect example of the shutting down the silk road and the black market. and actually shut down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of people associate associate big one just directly with the silk road and so since it's been shut down the currency did dip about ten percent for both twelve dollars and since then people realize that it's not just about the black market and it's actually a legitimate currency and it's actually got off one hundred percent since then. and you can find out more now because of y. x. and y. it has been such a monumental controversy that's how websites. and are coming up later in the program based out of the sochi countdown and tis the homestretch reginald's boxes being takes off. as planks upon the one hundred day mark until the winter games opening ceremony after the break. if we look at the history of the l.p.c. w.n. it's engagements in the past with the united states there is a history of let's say intimidation on many collation of whatever you call it if indeed we find that president assad

was a perfect example of the end up shutting down the silk road that was they could be squee the black market e.-bay and they actually shut that down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of you will associate it associated because we're in just directly with the silk road and so since it's been shut down the currency did dip about ten percent for both twelve hours and since then people realise that it's not just about the black market and it's actually a legitimate currency and it's actually gone up one hundred percent since then. now you can find out exactly how bitcoin works and why it's become such a magnet for controversy on our web site dot com still last to come for you the program here on. big brother the brick group of emerging economies say they don't want to be spied on by america the plan to build a new secure. from washington's on. entering the home stretch. of the olympic city is called the one hundred day mark until the winter games opening ceremony. it's good to have you with us here in our t. today justice seeking journey of tho

is a perfect example of the shutting down the silk road and e.b.e. black market e.-bay and actually shut down which is actually a very good thing for the currency as a whole as a lot of people associated it associated big going just directly with the silk road and so since it's been shut down the currency did about ten percent for both twelve hours and since then people realize that it's not just about the black market and it's actually a legitimate currency and it's actually gone up one hundred percent since then. and of got more stories waiting on line for you including an opportunity not to be a man thank you k hopes to billions in arab investment by becoming the vast european states to issue islamic bonds had to r.t. dot com for more. and also that families and friends reunited after israel releases twenty six palestinian prisoners touching pictures in our invasion section for you . trials fighter jets and military helicopters iraq's prime minister is traveling to washington with a have to shopping list of equipment he wants to help find the sect

he has been on silk road and knows others who used it.e says people use it without having to go looking for dealers. >> the quality is never in question, the feedback is very sophisticated. and it took a lot of danger out of the drug market. >> it is an internet sale or a street corner sale, against the law. >> the dea special agent carl nicole says that braun and others who prey on the drug sales are missing the point. >> these drugs are hazardous to human life. >> court documents say several thousand drug dealers from around the world use the secret site. eight more people have been arrested since the fbi shut down silk road, including one man in washington state, accused of dealing drugs on the site. several others were arrested in britain and sweden. >> now, he has been accused of engaging in a murder for hire plot. authorities say he hired an undercover agent to kill a person who threatened to reveal the identity of the users unless albrecht paid him off. >>> and the tahoe area gets a dusting of snow already, raising hopes for an ear

seized three point six billion dollars worth all the virtual currency a silk road allowed uses to trade in legal drugs that required the use of the big quite as a consequence the value of the bit quite prominent more than one hundred forty u.s. dollars the sounds of the virtual currency claim that plenty of illegal practices have been carried out using the us dollar the british pound the russian ruble or any other global currency in the old days where he demonstrates is that the coin can be used illegally or maybe it goes. for today is a french cap so i will indeed be back next week saying the same time savior excuse me i'm going to go see how this time this is day and i'm going to go bring him some grapes and since he has not so nice. after decades of prosecuting a cold turkey proxy war against iran can watch them change its behavior many more children have dismissed obama's old branch out of many in the red or just as mistrustful is this quest for peace of. this. point being the expensive car saloon. new clueless a new fashion show. also designer bags and shoes in the best shop window

seized three point six billion dollars worth all the virtual currency silk road allowed uses to trade in illegal drugs that required the use of the big quite as a consequence of value of the big quite prominent more than one hundred forty u.s. dollars the founder of the verge of currency claim that plenty of illegal practices have been carried out using the us dollar the british pound the russian ruble or any other global currency in the old days when he demonstrates is that the coin can be used illegally or legally of course. for today is a french cap so i will indeed be back next week same place same time to excuse me i'm going to go see how this time this is day and i'm going to go for him some grapes and since he had lots of nice. recently the ministry of internal affairs of russia declared that they're going to dress to increase operations in and around the moscow subway system with a major emphasis on illegal immigration there's an odd paradox when people talk about dealing with illegal immigration in terms of what the police should do people want the police to deal with it but

. >> so the silk road was set up to be completely anonymous. hidden from law enforcement efforts. >> the silk road was shut down by the fbi on wednesday. those who attempted to visit instead saw this message. before it went dark the site functioned as an online marketplace, complete with shopping carts and product description. it includes illegal drugs from heroin to cocaine and guns, fake licenses and hacking services. >> this is a website through which it's estimated $1.2 billion passed. >> it was a sophisticated operation. >> they were able to ill filtrate the site. they made purchases themselves using undercover identities. >> according to the fbi he not only went onto become the largest digital drug lord but in a twist that seems straight from tv they allege he tried to put a hit on a silk road user blackmailing him. the fbi caught him because he failed to follow his own security rules. while seeking tech help for his site he used his personal e-mail and gave his real name. >> that was kind of a flaw. it was ridiculous that you would put y

seized three point six billion dollars worth all the virtual currency the silk road allowed users to trade in illegal drugs that required the use of the big point as a consequence the value of the bit quite prominent more than one hundred forty u.s. dollars the fans of the virtual currency claim that plenty of illegal practices have been carried out using the u.s. dollar the british pound the russian ruble or any other global currency and that all this will be demonstrates is that the coin can be used illegally or legally of course. for today is a french capital i would indeed be back next week same place same time savior excuse me i'm going to go see how this time this is day and i'm going to go for him some grapes instant tea and lots of nice. some mathematicians at the swiss federal institute of technology have given us a very precise answer they did a study of who owns and controls the companies on the capital markets forty three thousand companies and they found out that there's a secret super entity they call it that owns sixty percent of the earnings every year and forty perce

the silk road web site was shut down earlier this month. authorities say more than $1 billion in illegal narcotics were traded on that site. >>> for the first time congress is getting the chance to grill a member of the obama administration about the troubled health care web site. here is danielle nottingham reporting for wjz. >> reporter: maryland heads medicare and medicaid services, the agency in charge of the troubled health care.gov web site. lawmakers were quick to offer opinions of her performance. >> you and your staff made repeated claims to the american public and congress that everything would be ready on time, everybody was a go. none of that proved to be true. >> reporter: she is a former nurse and hospital administrator said the site will be fixed. >> when the site went live few customers could create an account. now over 90% can. >> reporter: lawmakers want to know why it was broken in the first place. >> can he -- we can't solve a problem until we realize the full extent of the problem. >> reporter: many republicans and demo

just stumbled on twenty eight million dollars worth of bitcoins the stock belonged to the owner of silk road the so-called even a of drugs and i sit down a little bit with fixed point foundation is director of public affairs to talk all things that point as well as new frontiers and currencies and finally with record fines being handed down to j.p. morgan and friends their auditors appear to be getting off scot free them and start talks to us about the failures of the big four let's get to the show. you can have a bubble these days without a new form of financial innovation especially without the participation of the population at large however with millions of scores ruined you might think the average joe wouldn't participate in the new housing bubble turns out americans are involved but not as they were prior role as homeowner. there's some of the largest funds such as blackstone have been quietly scooping up foreclosed homes over the last two years only to rent them out and now securitized the rental income streams today we saw this headline on bloomberg dot com pending sales of existing

he is accused of running silk road, the ebay for drugs. they say criminals use the silk road web site to trade drugs and illegal services like forgery. he is also accused of using the site to hire somebody to kill a former employee he thought was stealing. the web site is now shut down. court documents show they sold $1.2 million of drugs in three years. >> now to the federal government shutdown. president obama is not expected to meet with congressional leaders today, following yesterday's unproductive session at the white house. democrats are continuing are their refusal to budge on making the president's affordable healthcare act part of the talks. several games will go on, the u.s. military academy football team will play this weekend. >> coming up. the personal pledge chelsea clinton is making for her parents. >> and governor brown signs historic legislation today, giving undocumented immigrants new life. >> a behave area company patents new of using toothpaste to clean a denture. but dentures are very different to real teeth. they're

heroin and cocaine along with guns were available on an online marketplace known as the silk road. 29-year-old ross ulbricht is behind the billion dollar operation. >> silk road was set up to be completely anonymous. >> here in maryland ulbricht is charged with ordering the torture and murder of a witness. >>> dr. ben carson said he believes he's being targeted by the irs. according to the the baltimore sun carson said he believes he was targeted for an audit because of his vocal opposition to the obama administration. he challenged the president's health and economic policy with the president sitting close by back in february. he said this is the first time his taxes have ever been audited by the internal revenue service. >>> starting tomorrow the edgar allen poe house will reopen on the weekends but just for the rest of the month. poe baltimore, the organization, will offer a sneak peak at the landmark. the house will be open for free from noon until 4:00 on both saturdays and sundays in october. poe briefly lived will in the 19 1830s. >>> still to come, a dra matic crash caught cam

a reporter for forbes magazine wrote in august about buying mare juana off the silk road website. >> it was very professional and sort of seamless experience. >> reporter: he called himself dread pirate roberts after a character in a movie. they also accuse him of offering money to have a user of the site killed who was threatening to expose it. but investigators say that was never carried out. >>> as you may know, for days now benjamin netanyahu has been warning the world that the new president of iran is a wolf in sheep's clothing with his conciliatory talk about peaceful nuclear program. he is keeping up the pressure in an interview with our chief correspondent andrea mitchell. >> everybody knows that iran wants to destroy israel, is trying to build atomic bombs for that purpose. you don't want to be where this regime has wild ambitions and they get away with building the weapons. >> reporter: two leaders with radically different visions on the world stage. netanyahu warning that rouhani cannot be trusted. >> i want a diplomatic solution, but one that absolutely dismantles iran's

anonymity is sacrosanct. >> just because silk road is shut down doesn't mean the concept will go awayrator made $80 million in fees. that's a huge incentive. >> reporter: $80 million. ulbricht's attorney, a public defender, has not returned our called for comment. investigators say his key mistake, he allegedly used his personal e-mail address for nearly all silk road communications, george. >> thanks very much. >>> let's talk to dan abrams about this, our chief legal affairs anchor. i'm amazed that a website like this could stay up for so long. >> it's accessed through a special network on the internet, which allowed users to immediately encrypts, masks who they are. so, you can't identify what their i.p. address is. and the payment system is through bitcoin, which is digital currency. not backed up by international banks. not backed up by u.s. banks. but simply based on the confidence of the users who exchange these bitcoins computer to computer. >> the fbi's case is based on the idea if they can show that dread pirate roberts is ross ulbricht? >> can they link -- he was trying to h