Silk Road website accused wanted in US for trial

An application for the extradition of a man to face trial in the US on conspiracy charges arising from his alleged links to a narcotics and drugs distribution website will be heard at the High Court in July.

Gary Davis, aged 26, Johnstown Court, Kilpedder, Co Wicklow, is wanted on charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The matter was briefly mentioned yesterday before the High Court when Mr Justice Paul McDermott fixed July 14 for the hearing of the extradition request. Mr Davis is opposing the application and argues he should not be surrendered.

The US authorities claim the Silk Road website, shut down by the FBI in 2013, was an underground website that hosted a “sprawling black market bazaar” on the internet, where items including drugs, guns and counterfeit money were bought and sold.

Mr Davis is accused of acting as an administrator on the website, using the name ‘Libertas’. He was arrested on foot of a warrant issued by the High Court in 2014.

Counsel for attorney general Ronan Kennedy asked the court to fix a hearing in July. The matter had been going on since January 2014 and he wanted it to proceed to hearing.

A timetable for exchange of legal documents and submissions had been agreed and his side said the hearing would take two days, counsel added.

Lawyers for Mr Davis said the hearing could take up to four days. There was considerable material in the case including expert medical evidence about a condition affecting Mr Davis known as Asperger’s syndrome, the court heard.

Mr Justice McDermott said the matter would be heard from July 14. The judge remanded Mr Davis, on bail pending the hearing.

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