The U.S. Department of Justice has filed additional support against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm’s request for a judgment of acquittal, pointing to an appellate ruling in the case of Bitcoin Fog operator Roman Sterlingov. Prosecutors said that decision backs their position that venue in the Southern District of New York is proper. In the filing, the government argued that Shakeeb Ahmed used Tornado Cash from an apartment in Manhattan, and that conduct is sufficient to establish venue for the conspiracy charges tied to money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Judge Katherine Polk Failla heard arguments on Storm’s acquittal motion in April 2026 but has not yet ruled. A jury in August 2025 found Storm guilty on the conspiracy count related to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, while failing to reach a unanimous verdict on the money laundering and sanctions conspiracy counts. A retrial on those unresolved charges is currently scheduled for April 26, 2027.
The U.S. Department of Justice, in a filing submitted Monday, cited the appellate ruling in the case of Bitcoin Fog operator Roman Sterlingov as additional authority in opposition to Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm’s request for a judgment of acquittal.
Prosecutors said the Sterlingov decision supports their argument that venue in the Southern District of New York is proper. The government said Shakeeb Ahmed used Tornado Cash from an apartment in Manhattan, and that activity is enough to establish venue for the charges against Storm involving conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.
No ruling yet on acquittal request
Judge Katherine Polk Failla heard arguments on Storm’s acquittal request in April 2026, but has not issued a ruling.
Earlier in the case, a jury in August 2025 found Storm guilty of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. The jury did not reach a unanimous verdict on the money laundering conspiracy and sanctions conspiracy counts.
A retrial on those unresolved charges is currently set for April 26, 2027.
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