Isn't the idea that you setup something like this, and run it for a while, and then you bailout and sell it to someone else and they do the same? It's a game of hot potato. So long as you don't leave too much evidence and you launder your currencies correctly, only the last owner gets caught.

Thats how the Dread Pirate Roberts got his name no?

The question is whether anyone has actually done that in reality rather than telling stories about the theory.

That a fascinating story that DPR told the judge (One of many), who did not believe one bit of it.

"Because a judge" isn't necessarily the be-all one might wish it to be. A judge is just human and brings along their beliefs and knowledge or lack of to every case.

Or the defendant was lying.... I don't think you or I know any more than the judge did (and we likely know way less)

Interestingly, Ross Ulbricht didn't claim to take over the site from others, he claimed to be the original creator, the original DPR, and then later handed it off to other people who got away.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/9akg85/irs-found-accused-...

The idea is that you close suddenly stealing whatever money you can at the moment.

I don't find idea of black market operator stealing shocking nor unbelievable.