A black market hidden in the dark reaches of the Internet, the Silk Road fed an insatiable demand worldwide for drugs, malware and worse. At the center of it all was a mysterious, charismatic figure calling himself the Dread Pirate Roberts, who championed his illegal bazaar as a bulwark against an overly intrusive government and a beacon for anyone committed to individual freedom and privacy.

Forbes published the first extended interview with the online drug lord, and since then we have covered the Dark Web market’s wild success and sudden shuttering when the feds apprehended 29-year-old Ross Ulbricht in the science fiction section of a San Francisco public library. Forbes was present for Ulbricht’s trial, which not only showcased the lurid crimes connected to the Silk Road but also offered a look at how crime, currency and commerce are evolving with the Internet. Look no further for an unparalleled tale of online secrecy, murders-for-hire, courtroom drama and corruption.