The US Department of Justice cited the appeal judgment of Bitcoin Fog operator Roman Sterling in a document submitted on Monday as a supplementary basis for opposing Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm's plea for a not guilty verdict. The US prosecutor stated that the ruling supports their claim that the trial location in the Southern District of New York is appropriate. The prosecutor claimed that Shakeeb Ahmed had used Tornado Cash in his Manhattan apartment, and the related activities were sufficient to determine the location of the trial for Roman Storm's alleged conspiracy to launder money and transfer unlicensed funds. Judge Katherine Polk Failed has heard Roman Storm's plea of not guilty in April 2026, but has not yet made a ruling. The jury ruled in August 2025 that he was guilty of conspiracy in the transfer of unlicensed funds, but failed to reach a consensus on the charges of money laundering and sanction conspiracy. The relevant retrial is tentatively scheduled for April 26, 2027.
