A well-known figure in the cryptocurrency sector, referred to as “Bitcoin Jesus”, has been indicted in a tax evasion case involving millions of dollars. Bitcoin advocate Roger Ver has responded by requesting that a federal court dismiss the charges, claiming that the Biden administration is using its power in an unconstitutional manner to undermine the cryptocurrency industry.
Motion for Dismissal
Recently, Ver’s legal representatives filed a motion to have all tax evasion charges against him dropped, asserting that the actions of the US government have exceeded constitutional boundaries.
In February, Bitcoin Jesus was taken into custody while attending a crypto conference in Barcelona, facing accusations of avoiding tax obligations on his BTC sales.
Roger Ver intends to contest what he describes as a politically motivated attack on cryptocurrency, engaging the legal expertise of Steptoe LLP and Kimura London & White.
🚨NEW from me: Roger Ver’s legal team moves to dismiss indictment citing government overreach
Lawyers for @rogerkver, aka ‘Bitcoin Jesus,’ are hopeful that his tax evasion charges will be dropped as part of Trump’s commitment to end the #crypto regulatory crackdown.https://t.co/NtOlAkUNfR
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) December 4, 2024
On Tuesday, his attorneys petitioned Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald of the United States District Court for the Central District of California to dismiss the indictment, contending that the charges stem from unconstitutional government overreach and misleading evidence presented against their client.
“The indictment should be dismissed. The charges are unconstitutional: they are based on a tax that violates both the 16th Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment,” the motion asserted.
Characterizing the Charges as Political
Ver’s legal team argues that the indictment from the US Department of Justice is “purely political,” a view echoed by many online observers who see it as part of a broader governmental assault on cryptocurrency.
The attorneys emphasize that the circumstances surrounding the Bitcoin advocate’s case exemplify the use of enforcement actions to regulate an industry without clear guidelines, which has been characteristic of state authorities under the Biden administration.
In April, a US grand jury charged Ver with eight counts related to criminal conduct, accusing him of failing to pay nearly $50 million in taxes from Bitcoin sales in 2017. Additionally, he faced charges for misrepresenting the actual value of his cryptocurrency holdings in 2014.
A Ray of Optimism
The timing of the motion to dismiss is particularly fortuitous as the US government prepares for a transition to a new administration, which many anticipate will adopt a more pro-crypto position compared to the current administration.
Ver’s legal representatives are hopeful that under the incoming administration of President Donald Trump, their client’s indictment could be dismissed, as Trump has promised a more favorable outlook toward the cryptocurrency sector.
This case has sparked considerable backlash from the cryptocurrency community, which criticized the US Department of Justice’s enforcement-centric approach to digital assets.
Civil rights attorney Robert Barnes has asserted that the indictment against the cryptocurrency figure represents selective law enforcement, arguing that it highlights the phenomenon of lawfare targeting the crypto industry, where individuals are pursued based on political motivations rather than substantial evidence of wrongdoing.
Image Source: Roger Ver @ Instagram
