That is ironic. The guy wanted to create a governmentless experience so he gets busted during the shutdown.
And perhaps it was his undoing, speculates this author: http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/10/03/silk-road-is-dead-long-live-silk-road/
His undoing was that he didn't do anything to protect his identity beyond using TOR: - He used the same identifying info in the clear net and on Tor - name, handles, emails, etc. - He didn't use clean systems from many different locations - he didn't use multiple VPN or proxies to hide where he was... - he think to use any of the anonymous drop services listed on his own site for those fake IDs... Total noob when it comes to security... As they said in the indictment, they found him using good old-fashioned detective work. They didn't have to work too hard... he left clues everywhere...