The United States Justice Department has strongly opposed Virgil Griffith’s plea to reduce his sentence for violating sanctions on North Korea.
In a filing on June 17th at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams argued against Griffith’s request to shorten his prison term from 63 months to potentially as low as 51 months.
Former Ethereum developer Griffith was sentenced in April 2022 along with a $100,000 fine, with his projected release set for January 2026 considering time served.
Williams emphasized Griffith’s deliberate actions, accusing him of intentionally evading U.S. sanctions to provide blockchain and cryptocurrency expertise to North Korea. Despite knowing the regime’s aggressive stance and human rights abuses, Griffith’s defense claimed he suffered from obsessive-compulsive and narcissistic personality disorders, contributing to his fascination with North Korea.
The case stemmed from Griffith’s participation in a 2019 blockchain conference in Pyongyang, where he reportedly lectured on how North Korea could use crypto to bypass sanctions. Prosecutors also pointed out disciplinary issues Griffith faced in prison, including minor infractions like attempting to steal soap and tea.
Griffith’s legal team sought a reduced sentence based on updated sentencing guidelines. They argued that under the revised rules, his prison term could be shortened by up to a year, potentially allowing for release in January 2025. During his sentencing, Griffith expressed remorse and claimed to have overcome his fixation on North Korea, citing the example of sanctions imposed on Russia.
Judge Kevin Castel, however, noted Griffith’s opportunistic behavior and lack of consistent ideology. Despite ongoing legal proceedings, the U.S. Department of Commerce has already imposed a 10-year export ban on Griffith, prohibiting him from engaging in transactions involving certain commodities, software, or technology until 2032.
Griffith’s legal team has been given 14 days to respond to the government’s arguments. The outcome will determine whether Griffith’s sentence is modified, but his future activities are already significantly restricted under existing sanctions.
