I mean, it's not about building a Bitcoin economy, it's about operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, trying this is the US is risky at best, and outright stupid at worst. I also found this about their indictment, which just paints a worse picture for them:
I do agree that doing this is US was very risky but complying with every government decision, rule and law got us in this crazy situation we have in the world now.
More people comply with new government decisions, like wearing mandatory horns on our head or not talking with anyone on the street, more problems we are going to have, so I see non-compliance as a tool people have to resist.
I wonder how some politicians can steal all the money they want, lie, abuse everyone all the time, make people suicide themselves, and yet they never end up in jail.
It seems to be true and here is additional video interview made with Ian Freeman, who was a prisoner at his own home with police leg bracelet.
https://youtu.be/eoYopgjUUfQ