Charlie Shrem associate Robert Faiell has been given a 4 year sentence for his involvement in the Silk Road money laundering case.

Faiella, known as “BTCKing,” told U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff today that he exchanged the digital currency for use in online drug deals to support his family after he became disabled by back troubles.

“At the time of the event, I saw no other way,” Faiella said in his sentencing hearing. “It still doesn’t mitigate that I broke the law.”

Judge Rakoff said Faiella, who along with Shrem also has to forfeit $950,000, did deserve a harsher sentence, in part due to a prior conviction for a tax offense.

“He knew from his own criminal history the nature of the risk he was taking, and he knowingly assumed that risk,” Rakoff said.

Faiella was arrested along with Shrem for money laundering in January 2014. They were both accused of planning the sale of more than $1 million worth of Bitcoin to users of the Silk Road via their Bitcoin exchange BitInstant.com. US District Attorney’s office accused the pair of “knowingly contributed to facilitating the drug sales on Silk Road, earning substantial profits along the way.”

Despite being CEO of BitIntant.com Shrem was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment in December, 2 years less than Rakoff.

The case intersected with the trial of Ross Ulbricht last week over the running of Silk Road, with lawyers for Ulbricht suggesting that he was a fall guy, and Shrem was the true mastermind of Silk Road. Shrem has denied the allegations.

photo credit: antanacoins via photopin cc