In the latest development in the ongoing prosecution of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm, the presiding judge has postponed the long-awaited trial until April 2025. This decision means that money laundering charges and sanctions against the crypto developer are certain to drag on. at least for the next five months.
Mandamus petition process still scheduled for November 12
On Friday, November 1, Judge Katherine Polk Failla of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled during a telephone conference that the Tornado Cash in Storm case would be postponed until April 14, 2025. This ruling postpones the trial by four counts . months from the previously planned December start date.
This four-month delay is expected to help prosecutors and defense resolve their disagreement over expert witness disclosures. This conflict began after Judge Failla ordered both sides to exchange information about expert witnesses they might ask to testify at trial.
According to one October 14 court filingStorm’s counsel – led by Brian Klein – disagreed with the New York judge’s order, arguing that such disclosure would reveal the defense’s strategy and could hamper the defendant’s case. Klein also argued that the defense is not legally obligated to disclose information about their expert witnesses unless they have requested the same from the prosecution.
In an effort to overturn Judge Failla’s order, Storm’s legal team filed a mandamus petition with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. For context, a mandamus petition refers to a formal request in which a party asks a higher court to direct a lower court or official to perform a duty or refrain from taking an action. A hearing on the mandamus petition, filed by Storm’s counsel, is scheduled for Nov. 12.
Tornado Cash co-founder Storm faces three charges in the case ongoing lawsuitincluding conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to violate sanctions, and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmission business. The crypto co-founder faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of all charges.
Tornado Cash’s Semenov still at large?
Storm pleaded not guilty to all three charges and was released on $2 million bond following his arrest in 2023. Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Semenov has since been on the run and has been added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) wanted list. Meanwhile, currently the third co-founder is Alexey Pertsev serving a five-year prison sentence in the Netherlands at similar costs.
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