๐ The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has strongly opposed Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm's bid to dismiss his criminal indictment, arguing that the case involves intricate facts best decided by a jury.
๐ก๏ธ In a robust filing on Friday, the DOJ countered the defense's portrayal of the cryptocurrency mixing service, Tornado Cash, which stands accused of being a conduit for money laundering by criminal groups like North Koreaโs Lazarus Group.
โ๏ธ Storm and co-developer Roman Semenov face charges of money laundering conspiracy, operating without a money-transmitting license, and violating sanctions laws.
๐ Storm's defense argued for dropping the charges, contending that Tornado Cash is not a "financial institution" due to its non-custodial nature, and Storm lacked control over its users.
๐ผ The DOJ rebuffed these arguments, portraying Tornado Cash as a mixer with various components launched in 2019, emphasizing Storm's significant involvement in its operation.
๐ The filing dismissed Storm's assertions about control mechanisms within Tornado Cash, asserting that evidence will demonstrate Storm's and his associates' control over the platform.
โ๏ธ Storm's trial is set for September, while Semenov remains at large, underscoring the ongoing legal confrontation over cryptocurrency platforms and the regulatory and prosecutorial challenges in this rapidly evolving sector.
