Hold onto your hats, crypto fans, because Roman Storm, the co-founder of Tornado Cash, is heading to trial on December 2 in New York for money laundering charges. And it’s all happening after U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla decided to keep three charges against him alive, brushing aside his plea to dismiss them.
In a virtual face-off on September 26, Judge Failla stood her ground against Storm's defense. Storm had argued that he only wrote the software and had no say in how it was used. But the judge wasn’t buying it. She pointed out that the government just needs to prove that Storm knew he was dealing with dirty money, not that he was part of a criminal mastermind plot.
Amanda Tuminelli, Chief Legal Officer at DeFi Education Fund, spilled the tea on social media. She said the judge found no merit in Storm’s arguments for dismissal, emphasizing that the real issue—whether Storm knew he was handling crime proceeds—should be decided by a jury.
Judge Failla also noted that Storm should have known his actions might land him in hot water, given the laws involved. Meanwhile, Jake Chervinsky from Variant Fund didn’t hold back, calling the ruling a blow to software developers' freedom and a twist of justice.
Storm and his fellow Tornado Cash developer Roman Semenov are facing serious accusations: conspiracy to launder money, run an unlicensed money-transmitting business, and violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The DOJ claims that Tornado Cash knowingly handled shady transactions, including those linked to the infamous North Korean Lazarus Group.
Storm, who insists he's innocent, is gearing up for a two-week trial in December, while Semenov is still on the run. Tuminelli added that although the judge didn’t issue a formal written opinion, she’s expected to provide a summary ruling without setting a binding precedent for future cases.
So, grab your popcorn, because this trial is shaping up to be a blockbuster!
