A popular figure in the cryptocurrency world known as “Bitcoin Jesus” – who was indicted in a multimillion-dollar tax evasion case – asked a federal court to drop the charges against him. Impact on Bitcoin Roger Ver attacked the Biden administration, accusing the US government of unconstitutionally using excessive power to paralyze the cryptocurrency industry.
Request to dismiss the case
Vera’s legal advisors recently moved to dismiss all tax evasion cases against the influential Bitcoin company, citing that the US government overstepped in its actions that went beyond what is permitted under the Constitution.
In February, Bitcoin Jesus was arrested while attending a crypto conference in Barcelona on charges of tax evasion for selling BTC.
Roger Ver aims to fight what he says is a politically motivated move against cryptocurrencies with the services of lawyers Steptoe LLP and Kimura London & White.
🚨NEW from me: Roger Vera’s legal team seeks to dismiss indictment, citing government overreach
Lawyers for @rogerkveraka “Bitcoin Jesus”, they hope his tax evasion charges will be dropped as part of Trump’s promise to end #crypto regulatory bomb.https://t.co/NtOlAkUNfR
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) December 4, 2024
On Tuesday, his legal team asked Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to dismiss the indictment against the influence of cryptocurrencies, arguing that the charges are the result of an unconstitutional government advance of funds and misleading evidence against their client.
“The indictment must be dismissed. “The charges are unconstitutional: they are based on a tax that is itself a violation of both the 16th Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment,” the motion said.
“Purely Political”
Vera’s lawyers believe that the indictment brought by the U.S. Department of Justice was “purely political” in nature, which many Internet users considered part of the government’s war on cryptocurrency.
The legal team added that the Bitcoin influencer case is a perfect example of law enforcement being used to regulate an industry without providing clarity on the rules that apply in the space. This was the approach of state authorities under Biden.
In April, a U.S. grand jury indicted Vera on eight criminal counts for allegedly failing to pay nearly $50 million in taxes for selling Bitcoin in 2017. He was also accused of underreporting the true value of his cryptocurrency holdings in 2014.
Ray of Hope
The filing of the motion to dismiss the charges could not have come at a better time as the U.S. government transitions to a modern administration that many believe has a more pro-crypto stance than the Biden administration.
Vera’s lawyers are positive that under the administration of future US President Donald Trump, the indictment against their client will be dropped. Trump has promised that his administration will take a more favorable approach to the cryptocurrency industry.
The Vera case sparked outrage from the crypto community, which condemned the US Department of Justice’s law enforcement approach to digital assets.
Civil rights attorney Robert Barnes believed that the indictment against an influential crypto entity constitutes selective enforcement, adding that the case is a perfect example of illegal actions against the crypto industry, “targeting individuals based on political considerations rather than clear evidence of wrongdoing.” crimes.”
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView
