Roger Ver, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency world known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” is facing a multi-million-dollar tax evasion case and has asked a federal court to drop the charges against him. Ver, a well-known Bitcoin influencer, has accused the Biden administration of using unconstitutional excessive power to target the cryptocurrency industry.
Ver’s legal team has recently filed a motion to dismiss all tax evasion charges against him, arguing that the US government has overstepped its boundaries and violated the constitution. In February, Ver was arrested in Barcelona during a crypto conference for allegedly failing to pay taxes on his BTC sales.
Claiming that the charges are politically motivated, Ver has hired lawyers from Steptoe LLP and Kimura London & White to fight back against what he sees as an attack on the cryptocurrency industry. His legal team has requested Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald to dismiss the indictment, stating that the charges are unconstitutional and based on misleading evidence.
The lawyers believe that the indictment by the US Department of Justice is purely political and part of the government’s crackdown on cryptocurrency. They argue that the case against Ver highlights the lack of clear regulations in the industry, with state authorities under the Biden administration using enforcement to control the sector.
In April, a US grand jury charged Ver with eight counts of criminal conduct, accusing him of evading taxes of nearly $50 million from his Bitcoin sales in 2017 and undervaluing his crypto holdings in 2014. The filing of the motion to dismiss the charges coincides with the transition to a new US administration, with hopes that President Donald Trump’s administration will take a more favorable stance towards cryptocurrencies.
The crypto community has rallied behind Ver, condemning the US justice department’s aggressive approach to digital assets. Civil rights attorney Robert Barnes has criticized the indictment as selective enforcement, targeting individuals based on political considerations rather than clear evidence of wrongdoing.
Overall, Ver’s case represents a larger battle between the cryptocurrency industry and government authorities, with the outcome likely to have significant implications for the future of digital assets. As the legal battle continues, the crypto community remains hopeful for a fair resolution that will protect the rights and interests of all involved parties.
