Ross Ullbricht did not get a fair trial. Evidence was withheld to protect the agents, who also stole Bitcoins.

The murder charges was never used in court, they only fabricated that story, to make him look bad, and the sentence is clear evidence of that.

There was a master plan to make a Scape goat out of him. There were other people involved too, but they were never found or charged with anything.

If he gets a fair appeal, he might get a much smaller sentence.