In summary
- Roger Ver’s lawyers asked to dismiss charges of tax evasion, arguing violations of his rights and an ambiguous tax framework.
- Ver faces accusations of failing to pay $50 million in taxes on Bitcoin sales and underreporting values while renouncing his citizenship.
- The defense alleged that the DOJ acted deceptively and that a lack of regulatory clarity made tax compliance difficult in the early Bitcoin era.
Roger Ver’s attorneys on Tuesday filed a motion to dismiss the criminal charge against the early Bitcoin adopter for tax evasion and allegedly failing to pay $50 million in unpaid taxes.
Known in the crypto ecosystem as “Bitcoin Jesus” for his Bitcoin evangelism, Ver was indicted in April by the United States Department of Justice for tax evasion and subsequently arrested by Spanish authorities.
The motion to dismiss coincides with a changing regulatory environment, as the US government, including the Department of Justice, faces major pro-Cryptocurrency policy changes under the incoming Trump Administration in January.
“The government’s charges against Roger Ver are based on violations of his rights; selective and misleading quotes from communications presented to the grand jury,” the motion says.
“Fundamentally, on the false and anachronistic pretense that US tax rules provided meaningful guidance to those who, like Ver, pioneered the now mainstream cryptocurrency economy.”
The DOJ indictment alleges that Ver failed to pay taxes on the sale of approximately $240 million in Bitcoin in 2017 and underreported the value of his Bitcoin holdings in 2014 when he renounced his U.S. citizenship.
In the motion, Ver’s attorneys said he and his former defense attorney “engaged in good faith discussions” with the DOJ. However, in the midst of these discussions, Ver’s lawyers said the government secretly accused him while he pretended to remain interested in negotiating.
The motion also claims that unclear and vague U.S. tax regulations played a significant role in Ver’s alleged nonpayment of taxes. Ver’s attorneys argued that the legal framework lacks sufficient guidance for average taxpayers and tax law experts. , which makes it difficult to determine the limits of criminal responsibility.
“This task of navigating regulatory uncertainty posed special difficulties in the case of cryptocurrencies, particularly for BTC in its infancy,” the lawyers said. “The United States government—though not the DOJ or the IRS—specifically recognized this difficulty.”
Ver’s legal team claims that the DOJ continues to selectively subpoena and incorporate documents that undermine their case and violate Ver’s attorney-client privilege. In May, Ver was released on $160,000 bail in Spain while he awaits a decision on his extradition to the US. US
“This prosecution must end,” Ver’s attorneys said. “The evidence that the government withheld from the grand jury, and that it has recently been provided with, makes clear that this indictment was obtained and continues to be prosecuted without regard to fairness.” fundamental or due process”.
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair
Daily Debrief Newsletter
Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
For the Latest Crypto News, Follow ©KeynoteUSA on Twitter Or Google News.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided on this page is for News purposes only and should not be considered investment or trading advice. ©Crypto.keynoteusa.com strongly recommends that you conduct independent research and/or consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.
