U.S. federal prosecutors are relying on an appellate ruling tied to crypto mixer Bitcoin Fog as added support in their opposition to Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm’s motion for acquittal.
Supplemental filing cites Sept. 25 appellate decision
In a filing submitted Monday, prosecutors pointed to a Sept. 25 appeals court ruling that upheld the conviction and sentence of Bitcoin Fog operator Roman Sterlingov. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said Washington, D.C. had jurisdiction over all four counts.
On the money laundering charge, the court said venue was supported because an undercover agent completed a Bitcoin Fog transaction from an office in the district. On the unlicensed money transmission charge, the court found sufficient evidence that Bitcoin Fog had served customers in the area.
How prosecutors applied the ruling to Storm’s case
Prosecutors said the Sterlingov ruling "directly supports" their position in the Storm case. They argued that Tornado Cash activity in Manhattan is enough to establish venue in the Southern District of New York for charges alleging conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.
The filing also cited testimony from Shakeeb Ahmed, who said he used Tornado Cash from his Manhattan apartment.
Current status of the case
Judge Katherine Polk Failla heard arguments on the acquittal motion in April 2026 and has not yet issued a ruling.
Earlier in the case, a jury in August 2025 found Storm guilty of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, but deadlocked on money laundering and sanctions conspiracy charges. Storm then filed a post-trial motion for acquittal in September 2025, arguing that prosecutors had failed to prove he intentionally helped criminals misuse Tornado Cash.