🔍 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.
🛡️ 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 Korea’s Lazarus Group.
⚖️ Storm and co-developer Roman Semenov face charges of money laundering conspiracy, operating without a money-transmitting license, and violating sanctions laws.
🔒 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.
💼 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.
📜 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.
⚖️ 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.
