Re: He was a drug dealer
FYI @calumg: It wasn't an internet crime it was a real crime. I'd example an internet crime as hacking a company database and selling on details or, where less harm occurs, making a movie generally available. He was facilitating the selling of real tangible drugs to real people in the real world. That's not an internet crime it is, whether you think it should be or not, a real-world crime just using the internet for general facilitation and anonymity. Just because your server effectively stands on the street corner in your place doesn't make it any different.
I'm not sure what your "for a first offence" rhetoric is about. First offence leniency is generally for petty crimes. I don't think I've ever heard of a judge being lenient for first time drug kingpin offences. The length of the sentence is too harsh but I don't think there's grounds for leniency anywhere. I think he's still struggling to get over the fact he was caught. Probably believed he was invincible.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
