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Reading the indictment, it seems like his partner ratted him out. Curious though, the indictment seems to list the redacted partner as doing most of the incrimi

Reading the indictment, it seems like his partner ratted him out. Curious though, the indictment seems to list the redacted partner as doing most of the incriminating things (posting a video demonstration, advertising the sale on AlphaBay, etc), it merely accused Marcus as being the author and co-conspirator. I wonder if his partner/friend got caught, and plea bargained to turn state's evidence against Marcus.

ivanbakel 9y ago
Makes me wonder if he was involved with criminal intentions - maybe they produced it together as a research project, then the partner decided to sell it? It would explain why he wanted a sample of his own software, if it wasn't just a cover.
Bartweiss 9y ago
> I wonder if his partner/friend got caught, and plea bargained to turn state's evidence against Marcus. I always wonder a bit about how often these things end up like Rubin Carter, with the guilty party turning state's evidence against someone less guilty or entirely innocent. I mean... one presumes there's more evidence generated by being more involved with the crime, as in this case. If you catch whoever is most identifiable and turn them, there ought to be a lot of cases where you're starting with the worst player and cutting them a deal.
- ktta 9y ago
  I would love to have a game theorist break this down in an understandable way.
notafurry 9y ago
Based on the number of people who are absolutely certain he wouldn't be involved, the circumstantial evidence suggesting he wasn't, and the lack of any solid evidence that he is, I think the smart bet to place is on this being Swatting. In other words, AlphaBay goes down, FBI analyses information and determines Mr. Redacted was responsible for Kronos. They arrest him, and in interrogation, he decides to blame someone else for anything they can't actually prove is him directly.

ivanbakel 9y ago

Makes me wonder if he was involved with criminal intentions - maybe they produced it together as a research project, then the partner decided to sell it? It would explain why he wanted a sample of his own software, if it wasn't just a cover.

Bartweiss 9y ago

> I wonder if his partner/friend got caught, and plea bargained to turn state's evidence against Marcus. I always wonder a bit about how often these things end up like Rubin Carter, with the guilty party turning state's evidence against someone less guilty or entirely innocent. I mean... one presumes there's more evidence generated by being more involved with the crime, as in this case. If you catch whoever is most identifiable and turn them, there ought to be a lot of cases where you're starting with the worst player and cutting them a deal.

ktta 9y ago
I would love to have a game theorist break this down in an understandable way.

notafurry 9y ago

Based on the number of people who are absolutely certain he wouldn't be involved, the circumstantial evidence suggesting he wasn't, and the lack of any solid evidence that he is, I think the smart bet to place is on this being Swatting. In other words, AlphaBay goes down, FBI analyses information and determines Mr. Redacted was responsible for Kronos. They arrest him, and in interrogation, he decides to blame someone else for anything they can't actually prove is him directly.