The post Bitcoin Fog Founder Challenges 30-Year Sentence Recommendation appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

TLDR Roman Sterlingov, founder of Bitcoin Fog, was convicted on money laundering charges in March 2024 Prosecutors recommend a 20-30 year prison sentence for Sterlingov Sterlingov’s lawyers argue the proposed sentence is excessive and unwarranted Bitcoin Fog allegedly facilitated laundering of about $400 million in Bitcoin from 2011 to 2021 The case highlights increasing legal scrutiny of cryptocurrency mixing services Roman Sterlingov, the founder of cryptocurrency mixing service Bitcoin Fog, is challenging a potential 30-year prison sentence following his conviction on money laundering charges. In March 2024, a jury found Sterlingov guilty of four counts related to money laundering through the operations of Bitcoin Fog. Prosecutors allege that Sterlingov operated Bitcoin Fog from 2011 to 2021, facilitating the laundering of approximately $400 million in Bitcoin tied to illicit activities. The U.S. government claims the service was used by criminals to hide funds from law enforcement, with transactions linked to drug trafficking, identity theft, and computer fraud. On August 15, 2024, Sterlingov’s legal team filed a memo in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, arguing against the government’s recommendation of a 20 to 30-year prison term. The defense asserts that such a lengthy sentence is excessive and inconsistent with penalties in comparable cases. While Sterlingov’s lawyers did not suggest a specific alternative sentence, they emphasized that the proposed 20 to 30-year term is unjustified. They contend that the evidence presented during the trial was largely circumstantial, noting that key pieces of evidence such as the Bitcoin Fog server, server logs, private keys, or ledger were never introduced in court. The defense argues that Sterlingov’s verdict is more consistent with aiding and abetting rather than directly operating Bitcoin Fog. They claim he was connected to the service but not responsible for its daily operations. Sterlingov’s attorneys also highlight…

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Filed under: News - @ August 17, 2024 3:14 pm