UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

OFFICIAL JUDICIAL SENTENCING TRANSCRIPT & DECREE

• DOCKET NUMBER: US-DC-CR-2026-8801

• PRESIDING MAGISTRATE: Honorable Evelyn Vance

• DEFENDANT ON TRIAL: Silas “Zero-Night” Vance (Age: 40)

• DATE OF SENTENCING: August 11, 2026

I. VERBATIM SENTENCING PRONOUNCEMENT BY THE PRESIDING JUDGE

THE COURT (HON. EVELYN VANCE):

“Let the record show that this Court has thoroughly examined the financial forensic audits and federal cyber-taskforce evidence. The defendant, Silas Vance, systematically operated an illicit dark-web syndicate, laundering over $80 million derived from ransomware extortion targeting municipal water networks and critical healthcare facilities.

It is the solemn duty of this Court to uphold public law and protect critical infrastructure from digital extortion. Therefore, upon conviction of all federal counts, THIS COURT HEREBY SENTENCES THE DEFENDANT, SILAS VANCE, TO A TERM OF 37 YEARS IN A FEDERAL MAXIMUM-SECURITY PENITENTIARY WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF EARLY PAROLE.“

II. STATUTORY CONVICTIONS ENTERED BY THE COURT

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STATUTORY CHARGE                                  LEGAL CODE          COURT VERDICT
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1. Operating a Continuing Cyber Criminal Enterprise  21 U.S.C. § 848     GUILTY
2. Intentional Damage to Critical Infrastructure    18 U.S.C. § 1030    GUILTY
3. International Money Laundering Conspiracy         18 U.S.C. § 1956    GUILTY
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III. COURTROOM INCIDENT & REMAND ORDER

Following the formal oral pronouncement of the 37-year sentence by Judge Evelyn Vance, the defendant became physically volatile, slamming his hands onto the defense counsel desk and shouting at the judicial bench. Court security officers immediately physically restrained the defendant at the counsel table, secured him in heavy steel wrist chains, and executed immediate remand into federal transport custody.

FINAL COURT ORDERS:

1. IMPRISONMENT: 37 Years federal custody under the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

2. RESTITUTION & FORFEITURE: Full forfeiture of $80 million in cryptocurrency wallets, real estate holdings, and hardware server arrays.

3. EXECUTION: Remand effective immediately.