Crypto Mixer Founder Roman Sterlingov Appeals 30-Year Money Laundering Sentence
Ruholamin Haqshanas is a contributing crypto writer for CryptoNews. He is a crypto and finance journalist with over four years of experience. Ruholamin has been featured in several high-profile crypto...
Roman Sterlingov, the founder of the cryptocurrency mixer Bitcoin Fog, is appealing against a potential 30-year prison sentence following his conviction on multiple money laundering charges.
In a filing submitted on August 15 to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Sterlingov’s lawyers argued that such a lengthy sentence is excessive and inconsistent with comparable cases.
His legal team refrained from suggesting a specific sentence but emphasized that the government’s recommendation of a 20 to 30-year term is unjustified.
They contend that the proposed sentence does not align with the outcomes of similar cases, where lighter penalties were imposed.
Sterlingov was convicted in March on charges of money laundering, conspiracy, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and transmitting money without a license in Washington, D.C.
Prosecutors allege that he operated Bitcoin Fog from 2011 to 2021, facilitating the laundering of approximately $400 million in Bitcoin linked to various illicit activities, including drug trafficking, identity theft, and computer fraud.
However, Sterlingov’s defense team disputes his level of involvement, arguing that while he was connected to Bitcoin Fog, he was not responsible for its operations.
They assert that much of the evidence presented during the trial was 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 also highlighted Sterlingov’s personal
Read more on cryptonews.com
