The US Department of Justice has urged the Southern District Court of New York to reject the motion to dismiss charges against one of the founders of Tornado Cash, Roman Storm. The prosecution believes that the evidence is sufficient to confirm his guilt in a conspiracy to conduct unlicensed money transfers.
This is reported by Finway
Details of the Roman Storm Case
In August 2025, the court found Storm partially guilty of conspiracy related to illegal money transfer activities. Following this, the defendant’s attorneys filed a post-trial motion, insisting that none of the three charges had been properly substantiated.
In response, prosecutors stated that Storm actively participated in the creation and subsequent management of Tornado Cash, and along with his partners, repeatedly modified the service’s interface, establishing restrictions and access methods for users. According to the prosecution, over 96% of users utilized Tornado Cash specifically through this interface, which, in their view, indicates Storm’s managerial role.
Charges of Money Laundering and Sanctions Violations
The defense also sought dismissal of two additional charges related to money laundering and sanctions violations. However, the prosecution emphasizes that the evidence in these cases was also comprehensive: the materials from the Department of Justice indicate that Tornado Cash was actively used by individuals and organizations under sanctions, including cybercriminals and groups linked to North Korea. Prosecutors assert that Storm was aware of the risks but continued to develop the service nonetheless.
“The materials from the US Department of Justice emphasize that Tornado Cash was used by entities under sanctions, including cybercriminals and organizations linked to North Korea. According to their version, Storm understood the potential consequences of the functionalities being implemented and still continued to develop the service.”
The final decision in the case will be made by Judge Katherine Polk Failla after receiving a response from Storm’s attorneys.