American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals Season 10 Episode 20 Silk Road: Digital Drug Dealers

Silk Road: Digital Drug Dealers is the twentieth episode of the tenth season of American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals. The episode takes an in-depth look at the rise and fall of the infamous online drug marketplace, Silk Road.

In the early days of the internet, Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht saw an opportunity to create a new kind of online drug market. Using the anonymity of the Tor network, Silk Road allowed buyers and sellers to conduct business without fear of being caught by law enforcement. Ulbricht believed he was creating a platform that would change the face of drug commerce forever.

However, despite Ulbricht's best efforts, Silk Road was far from a bastion of ethical drug sales. Vendors sold everything from marijuana to heroin, and the Silk Road community was rife with scams and violence. Meanwhile, Ulbricht himself was running the site under the pseudonym "Dread Pirate Roberts," and was using the platform to enrich himself to the tune of millions of dollars.

As Silk Road grew in popularity, law enforcement began to take notice. In 2013, the FBI launched an investigation into the site, ultimately uncovering Ulbricht's identity and arresting him. Ulbricht was later convicted on multiple charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering, and sentenced to life in prison.

Through interviews with law enforcement officials, former Silk Road vendors, and Ulbricht's own family members, the episode paints a vivid picture of the rise and fall of one of the most notorious digital drug markets in history. From Ulbricht's starry-eyed vision for Silk Road to his ultimate downfall, Silk Road: Digital Drug Dealers is a cautionary tale about the perils of playing fast and loose with the law, online or otherwise.