Bitcoin Fog founder argues 30-year sentence ‘vastly exceeds’ related instances

Roman Sterlingov, the person behind the crypto mixer Bitcoin Fog, is contesting a possible 30-year jail sentence following his conviction on several money laundering charges.

In a 37-page sentencing memorandum submitted to the US District Courtroom for the District of Columbia, Sterlingov’s protection staff contends that the really helpful sentences of 30 and 20 years by the prosecution and Probation Workplace, respectively, “vastly exceed” the penalties imposed in related instances.

The protection argued that these suggestions are disproportionately excessive because of the “cumulative impact” of assorted enhancements that punish totally different elements of the identical conduct — particularly, operating a large-scale cash laundering operation.

Laundering conviction

Sterlingov was convicted earlier this yr on multiple counts related to operating Bitcoin Fog, a service that allegedly facilitated the laundering of over $47 million in felony proceeds.

The federal government has portrayed him as a central determine in a complicated scheme that allowed customers to anonymize Bitcoin transactions, successfully making it troublesome for legislation enforcement to hint unlawful actions corresponding to drug trafficking and different felony enterprises.

Prosecutors alleged that Bitcoin Fog, which Sterlingov operated from 2011 to 2021, was used to launder roughly $400 million in Bitcoin linked to unlawful actions corresponding to drug trafficking, identification theft, and cybercrime.

Decide Randolph Moss, who’s overseeing the case, initially scheduled Sterlingov’s sentencing for Aug. 21. Nevertheless, the courtroom will now first hear arguments relating to the federal government’s efforts to grab belongings tied to Bitcoin Fog, together with 1,354 Bitcoin which have remained dormant since 2012 and a possible $395 million monetary judgment.

Circumstantial proof

Nevertheless, Sterlingov’s attorneys argued that the case in opposition to him relied closely on circumstantial proof, noting that key components such because the Bitcoin Fog server, server logs, non-public keys, or ledger have been by no means entered into proof in the course of the trial.

The protection emphasised that he has no prior felony historical past and has led an in any other case exemplary life. It additionally asserted that the jury’s verdict aligns extra with aiding and abetting relatively than instantly operating the Bitcoin Fog operation, suggesting that Sterlingov’s position was much less central than prosecutors have portrayed.

The protection additional argued that the sentencing tips, that are closely influenced by the greenback quantities concerned within the offense, don’t precisely replicate Sterlingov’s culpability.

It contended that the rules’ deal with the worth of the laundered funds is misplaced on this case, because it fails to account for the truth that Sterlingov didn’t personally revenue from the transactions and that lots of the funds handed via Bitcoin Fog with out his direct involvement.