The U.S. Department of Justice is weighing potential charges against leaders of Dragonfly Capital, connected to the case of Tornado Cash founder Roman Storm.
Details of Roman Storm's Case
Roman Storm faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, operating an unregistered money transmitter, and violating U.S. sanctions. The DOJ claims that Tornado Cash facilitated billions in illegal transfers, including transactions linked to North Korean hacker group Lazarus. Storm's defense sought to compel Dragonfly partner Tom Schmidt to testify on KYC compliance matters, but he refused to do so, citing the Fifth Amendment.
Haseeb Qureshi's Response to Allegations
Dragonfly Managing Partner Haseeb Qureshi publicly responded to the DOJ's potential charges, stating that the company invested in Tornado Cash based on legal advice confirming compliance with existing laws. Qureshi emphasized that Dragonfly did not operate or control the protocol, labeling the potential charges as 'outrageous' and warning that such actions would create a dangerous precedent, deterring future investments in privacy-focused projects.
Trial Approaches Conclusion
U.S. District Judge Katherine Failla noted that arguments could conclude as early as Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Reportedly, 'two to three doctors' and possibly a Chainalysis expert will testify in Storm's defense. Prosecutors aim to finish their case by Thursday, after which the Storm team will present closing arguments.
The trial involving Roman Storm is nearing its conclusion, and the forthcoming testimonies, along with the defense's arguments, may prove crucial to the case's outcome.
