But bitcoin isn't money. How can he plead guilty to running a money exchange, when the IRS has ruled it isn't money.
One of the perks of being a nation-state, is that you make the rules. You can interpret the rules as you wish, when you wish. Essentially you can have your cake and eat it too. The only meaningful way to understand "justice" in our society is to analyze it from a hierarchal perspective.
"Justice" is top-down, always. "Social justice" that radical bottom up form, is marginalized and mocked for a reason.