First of all, I believe the life sentence was overly harsh, and he shouldn't spend the rest of his life in prison. But I'm just stating facts. You can't just reject facts that conflict with your beliefs. That's intellectual bankruptcy.

Second of all...
 
"Ulbricht was not charged in his trial in New York federal court with murder for hire but evidence was introduced at trial supporting the allegations. The district court found by a preponderance of the evidence that Ulbricht did commission the murders. The evidence that Ulbricht had commissioned murders was considered by the judge in sentencing Ulbricht to life and was a factor in the Second Circuit's decision to uphold the sentence." (citations linked in the entry) 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Ulbricht