The father of an Australian teenager who died after taking a drug bought on the website Silk Road says a life sentence handed down to its US mastermind is a “sensational” result.

Rodney Bridge lost his 16-year-old son Preston in February 2013 after he fell from a balcony at a party in Perth when he was believed to be under the influence of an hallucinogen purchased through Silk Road by a friend.

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A US judge on Friday imposed two life sentences on the site’s 31-year-old mastermind, Ross Ulbricht for narcotics distribution and criminal enterprise.

“It’s sensational,” Mr Bridge told AAP.

“It’s a long time coming and I hope it sends the message out there to anybody else who wants to deal online with drugs.

Mr Bridge said Preston’s mother, Vicki, was one of two parents to deliver verbal impact statements before Judge Katherine Forrest in New York.

“(Ulbricht) showed no remorse and I think the penalty was justified,” Mr Bridge said.

He said he hoped Ulbricht’s jailing would make people reconsider setting up drug selling sites on the web.

The Silk Road sold $US200 million worth of drugs to customers worldwide.

It was alleged Ulbricht was responsible for at least six drug-related fatalities including that of Preston Bridge.

Ulbricht expressed no emotion as he stood to hear his fate on Friday.

Forrest also imposed maximum terms on Ulbricht for hacking, trafficking in false documents and money laundering convictions – five, 15 and 20 years respectively, to be served concurrently.

Forrest told Ulbricht he will never be eligible for parole.