In the latest development in the ongoing prosecution of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm, the presiding judge has postponed the highly anticipated trial until April 2025. The decision will delay charges of money laundering and sanctions violations against the crypto developer. At least the next five months.
The hearing on the mandamus petition is still scheduled for November 12.
On Friday, November 1, Judge Katherine Polk Fella of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled in a telephone conference to postpone the Tornado Cash Storm case until April 14, 2025. This decision pushes the trial back by four years. A few months from the previously scheduled December start date.
The four-month delay is expected to help prosecutors and defense attorneys resolve their disagreements over expert witness disclosures. The conflict began when Judge Failla ordered both sides to exchange information about expert witnesses they could ask to testify at trial.
according to a October 14 court filingStorm’s lawyers – led by Brian Klein – disagreed with the New York judge’s order, arguing that such disclosure would reveal the defense’s strategy and could hinder the defendant’s case. Klein also argued that the defense is not legally obligated to disclose information about its expert witnesses unless they have requested it from the prosecution.
Storm’s legal team has submitted a writ of mandamus to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, seeking to overturn Judge Failla’s order. For context, mandamus petition refers to a formal request in which a party asks the higher court to direct a lower court or officer to perform a duty or refrain from taking an action. A hearing on the mandamus petition filed by Storm’s attorney has been scheduled for November 12.
Tornado Cash co-founder Storm faces three charges in the ongoing trial, including 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 on all charges.
Tornado Cash’s Semenov still at large?
Storm pleaded not guilty to all three counts and was freed on $2 million bond following his arrest in 2023. Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Semenov has since been absconding and has been added to the wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Investigation (FBI). Meanwhile, third co-founder Alexey Pertsev is currently serving a five-year prison sentence in the Netherlands on similar charges.
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