Silk Road forums

Discussion => Newbie discussion => Topic started by: SilverOrange on August 17, 2013, 02:49 am

Title: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: SilverOrange on August 17, 2013, 02:49 am
Ha, I know the stuff it sells is illegal. Or most of it. I was just wondering, if actually visiting the website, and purchasing something not illegal (say a bug sweeper) is illegal. Because I saw a discussion about sending bitcoins directly to SR may be dangerous, but if they can't prove you bought anything illegal from here, is it illegal to have visited it?
Thanks
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: ripthesystem on August 17, 2013, 02:53 am
Interesting thought.
I would assume that maybe it could still be considered funding a criminal activity with your prior awareness, seeing as you obviously know that SR is a drug trafficking service and you using it helps to fund pretty much everyone involved in some minor way.
But I do not have enough legal knowledge to answer with any authority.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: new dreams on August 17, 2013, 06:12 am
my guess is that its probably not illegal by itself, but it would be used to further prove other illegal activities either real or imagined.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: cyberscour on August 17, 2013, 06:38 am
It would certainly raise some accusations if when they searched your computer for an unrelated cause they found signs you went to SR.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: wrathmore on August 17, 2013, 11:50 am
I believe that SR is illegal in the eyes of the law as it is offering a platform for illegal activities, mainly that its a black market which means tax avoidance. Thats the big law breaking. Using it however is not illegal, you can be looking with no intention of buying and also there is legal things for sale also such as paraphenalia and other items. instruments etc.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: isallmememe on August 17, 2013, 11:57 am
I believe that SR is illegal in the eyes of the law as it is offering a platform for illegal activities, mainly that its a black market which means tax avoidance. Thats the big law breaking. Using it however is not illegal, you can be looking with no intention of buying and also there is legal things for sale also such as paraphenalia and other items. instruments etc.

illegal drugs are not on any list of taxable products so it isn't technically tax avoidance. the only tax avoidance is on the income that the sellers make. but the buyers are not avoiding any sales tax or any other kinds of tax as far as i know.

and as somebody also pointed out, they would need to prove you actually bought something which they could only do by catching you with the drug through a controlled delivery and then finding your sr account open on your computer, or by you confessing yourself. just make sure you have silk road closed on your computer when your postman comes and don't load it until a good half hour to an hour after your stuff is delivered.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: jackie91 on August 17, 2013, 12:18 pm
I believe that SR is illegal in the eyes of the law as it is offering a platform for illegal activities, mainly that its a black market which means tax avoidance. Thats the big law breaking. Using it however is not illegal, you can be looking with no intention of buying and also there is legal things for sale also such as paraphenalia and other items. instruments etc.

illegal drugs are not on any list of taxable products so it isn't technically tax avoidance. the only tax avoidance is on the income that the sellers make. but the buyers are not avoiding any sales tax or any other kinds of tax as far as i know.

and as somebody also pointed out, they would need to prove you actually bought something which they could only do by catching you with the drug through a controlled delivery and then finding your sr account open on your computer, or by you confessing yourself. just make sure you have silk road closed on your computer when your postman comes and don't load it until a good half hour to an hour after your stuff is delivered.

The Marijuana Tax Act might still be in effect (passed early 1900's, and no I didn't witness it personally!) but there are no taxes on the others unless the tax law says anything "sold" must be taxed. The fact is the law is so flexible. That's why we need judges, juries, and lawyers. One DA in one court in one state could get a conviction easily using just the existence of SR, your visiting it, communications with the vendors and possession of BTC. Another DA, another state (or fed court) would have to show actual purchases and clear intent. You just don't know, though if you look at who the judge is, who the prosecutor is and the conviction rate of similar offenses you might be able to make a SWAG. Some of us on here now would be convicted, some wouldn't.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: wrathmore on August 17, 2013, 12:19 pm

illegal drugs are not on any list of taxable products so it isn't technically tax avoidance. the only tax avoidance is on the income that the sellers make. but the buyers are not avoiding any sales tax or any other kinds of tax as far as i know.

and as somebody also pointed out, they would need to prove you actually bought something which they could only do by catching you with the drug through a controlled delivery and then finding your sr account open on your computer, or by you confessing yourself. just make sure you have silk road closed on your computer when your postman comes and don't load it until a good half hour to an hour after your stuff is delivered.


kind of, buyers are still avoiding tax, im not sure what the name of law is exactly however i know that in the uk if you buy cheap cigarettes or alcohol for example it is illegal as you having paid duty on it. every consumable product should have paid VAT on it, which is the sellers responsibility however buyers are also held accountable if they are aware that what they are buying has not paid duty. Maybe drugs are a different kettle of fish.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: isallmememe on August 17, 2013, 12:46 pm

illegal drugs are not on any list of taxable products so it isn't technically tax avoidance. the only tax avoidance is on the income that the sellers make. but the buyers are not avoiding any sales tax or any other kinds of tax as far as i know.

and as somebody also pointed out, they would need to prove you actually bought something which they could only do by catching you with the drug through a controlled delivery and then finding your sr account open on your computer, or by you confessing yourself. just make sure you have silk road closed on your computer when your postman comes and don't load it until a good half hour to an hour after your stuff is delivered.


kind of, buyers are still avoiding tax, im not sure what the name of law is exactly however i know that in the uk if you buy cheap cigarettes or alcohol for example it is illegal as you having paid duty on it. every consumable product should have paid VAT on it, which is the sellers responsibility however buyers are also held accountable if they are aware that what they are buying has not paid duty. Maybe drugs are a different kettle of fish.

there is a difference between duty and VAT tho. cigarettes and alcohol specifically have duty on them as well as VAT. not all products have VAT on them either, like take away food for example. to be done for vat avoidance they have to show you avoided paying VAT on a product that is specifically listed as VAT taxable.

VAT avoidance is only used against vendors and importers tho. its not something that is prosecuted against an end of the line consumer. its like if they could do you here for tax avoidance on the illegal drugs you buy then they could do exactly the same against anybody who was ever caught on the street for possession of any illegal drug. i'm pretty sure that has never ever happened simply because it would be an impossible thing to prove in court because an illegal drug is not listed as a taxable product. how can it be, its illegal. they would have to show that the state had made attempts to collect tax on illegal drug sales which they have never done.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: FelixUK on August 17, 2013, 02:01 pm
Something to do with aiding a criminal conspiracy perhaps?
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: b3aned on August 17, 2013, 02:53 pm
Noobie here! Second post! Hello Silk Roaders. I came for the drugs but found a revolution.

Heard about the SR at a music festival last week and we had this exact discussion.

Browsing on here is not illegal. The actual website is only providing a platform for vendors so I believe that is not illegal. However, SR makes a commission on the sales of goods and I doubt DPR files a tax return! Or do you DPR? you law abiding citizen you!
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: isallmememe on August 17, 2013, 03:05 pm
Something to do with aiding a criminal conspiracy perhaps?

you need a minimum of two people involved to make a conspiracy. its not impossible that they could show a conspiracy tho, but for an end user consumer it just wouldn't be worth the effort.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: GoodieGumDrops on August 17, 2013, 03:13 pm
yeah I always figured it be near impossible for them to get ALL the proof they needed in the circumstances, unless you literally have no common sense. Just use SR for your purchase/purchases, and wait a day if you want (its not that long) to finalize them. Dont leave stupid traces on your computer. As long as you are dealing with a trustable and reliable vendor you will be good.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: wrathmore on August 17, 2013, 03:23 pm
conspiracy is also a stupid one and the police will and can (not legally) use any way to catch you out on it.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: gatogordo on August 17, 2013, 03:37 pm
my guess is, if you are a target, there will be a way to connect the dots and nail you.  but, there's usually a way out.  what vendors should be worried about is buyers being coerced into cooperating with LE.  let's face it.  vendors are the real target, but buyers are the easier prey. 
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: jackie91 on August 17, 2013, 04:30 pm
my guess is, if you are a target, there will be a way to connect the dots and nail you.  but, there's usually a way out.  what vendors should be worried about is buyers being coerced into cooperating with LE.  let's face it.  vendors are the real target, but buyers are the easier prey.

Good point. Based on what I have been seeing I think there will be a push against SR coming relatively soon (months, maybe within a year) by LE and prosecutors looking for headlines. And it will begin with turning buyers against vendors and cutting deals and then turning vendors against suppliers and eventually trying to infiltrate SR admin. I'm wondering if anyone is looking ahead and developing countermeasures against LE putting their tools and people into a serious intrusion of SR? Not just gathering intel but an intrusion that would scare buyers away. Without buyers SR cannot survive.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: TunzuhFunk on August 17, 2013, 07:45 pm
No - it's not illegal at all to buy something legit here. You should send your coin straight to your SR wallet though, because regardless of the fact that it's legal to use the site legitimately, letter agencies are still going to view it as if you are visiting SR to buy drugs.

My dad and lots of other guys I know read Playboy for the articles. Same thing with SR.
Title: Re: Silk Road Illegal?
Post by: new dreams on August 18, 2013, 05:06 am
^I agree completely, sums it up very well