[commoner]

> To prevent law enforcement from getting their hands on the special phones, Phantom Secure required existing customers — referred to as “executives” — to vouch for new customers, then conducted background checks. The company’s safeguard didn’t always work.

> The judge called Fairfield’s participation in the scheme “aggravated” because of the significant amount of money laundered, the use of his expertise and the four-year stretch of illegal activity.

In contrast, anyone (including law enforcement officials) can buy a PinePhone, and I doubt Pine64 is laundering money. It is unlikely for Pine64 to be prosecuted the way Phantom Secure was.