Silk Road 'mastermind' facing life in jail

The mastermind behind black market website Silk Road is facing life in jail after being found guilty of running an online drugs empire.

It took a jury just three hours to convict Ross Ulbricht of all seven counts against him, which included money laundering, computer hacking and drug trafficking.

Ulbricht's scheme generated $213 million (£140 million) over three years until the site was eventually shut down in 2011.

Prosecutors claimed the 30-year-old took extreme steps to prevent this happening, including soliciting the murders of several people who posed a threat. But no evidence exists that the killings were carried out.

His trial in New York heard he used the online alias "Dread Pirate Roberts" in a reference to the 1987 movie The Princess Bride.

Since his arrest, Ulbricht has attracted many supporters to his cause, including some who say the case is an attack on internet freedom.

He will be sentenced on May 15 but his lawyers have already said he will appeal his conviction.