Former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith, who was sentenced to 63 months in prison in 2022 for helping North Korea use blockchain technology, is requesting a sentence reduction from 63 months to 51 months or less.

This request was made in a letter from Griffith's attorney, Glen Garrett McGorty, to Judge Kevin Castel of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 17. The letter requests that the court revise Griffith's sentence based on recently enacted revisions to U.S. sentencing guidelines, which provide a two-point offence level reduction for certain "zero-point" offenders.

Griffith was sentenced to 63 months and a $100,000 fine in April 2022 after pleading guilty to breaking sanctions rules by travelling to a conference in North Korea and helping the country use blockchain technology, even though the US had placed economic restrictions on him.

The letter makes the case that, in light of the new standards' requirements, Griffith is eligible for a two-point reduction as a "zero-point" offender.

His overall offence level would drop from 26 to 24, resulting in a revised guidelines range of 51 to 63 months, which may cut his sentence by a year or more.

In order for the defence to present updated data and arguments in support of their motion for a reduction in sentence, the letter asks the court to direct the U.S. Probation Office to draft a revised pre-sentence investigation report, set a date for a resentencing hearing, and permit a briefing schedule.

"The defence humbly asks for the chance to present the Court with current facts that would support a sentence of no more than, if not less than, the minimum of 51 months, the revised Guidelines' range.

A first-time, non-violent offender who meets specific requirements for a lower likelihood of recidivism than other criminals is considered a "zero-point" offender.

As Griffith was completing the first year of a five-year sentence, the U.S. Department of Commerce additionally placed a 10-year export privilege ban on him in May 2023.

This means that he could not do any business dealings with goods, software, or technology that are subject to export laws from the United States.