DOJ Counters Tornado Cash Developer Roman Storm’s Defense, Asserting Money Transmitting Operations The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has rejected Tornado Cash developer
Roman Storm’s motion to dismiss criminal charges, arguing that the defense’s filing presented disputed facts that should be weighed by a jury rather than being resolved in an
early-stage motion. Storm, along with fellow developer
Roman Semenov, was charged by the DOJ with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to
operate an unlicensed money transmitter, and conspiracy to violate sanctions laws through the creation and operation of
Tornado Cash. In their motion to dismiss the indictment,
Storm’s attorneys argued that Tornado Cash is not a custodial mixing service and does not meet the definition of a
“financial institution.” They also contended that Storm had no control over the service and could not prevent entities like
Lazarus Group from using it.
