U.S. prosecutors intensified their crypto control claims in the Roman Storm trial as it entered Day 8.
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Special Agent Stephan George testified that Storm “had control” over funds sent from a Binance-linked wallet to Tornado Cash smart contracts.
The evidence included transaction data from Binance and internal communications between Roman Storm, Alexey Pertsev, and Roman Semenov.
The government used these findings to support allegations that Storm could direct wallet activity and had influence over how Tornado Cash operated. The prosecution ties this claim to charges of money laundering, unlicensed money transmission, and U.S. sanctions violations.
Storm’s lawyers disputed the testimony in a court filing dated July 22. They argued that George’s accounting experience did not qualify him to trace criminal crypto flows or determine who controlled specific wallet addresses.
The defense asked the court to exclude his testimony from the record.
Defense Challenges Romance Scam Connection
Prosecutors earlier called Hanfeng Lin, a romance scam victim, who said his stolen funds passed through Tornado Cash.
The government used this to illustrate how the platform was involved in laundering fraud proceeds.
Storm’s attorneys contested the claim, pointing to research showing that Lin’s funds never reached Tornado Cash.
They warned this could mislead the jury, since the testimony was used to support the broader control and laundering allegations.
The defense indicated a mistrial request may follow if the court does not address the misrepresented fund tracing. No decision had been made by the end of Day 8.
Sanctions Witness Focuses on Tornado Cash Behavior
Another government witness testified about how Tornado Cash responded to U.S. sanctions. The prosecution argued that Storm could have taken actions to deter illegal use of the platform.
However, the witness mostly discussed Tornado Cash’s platform behavior, not Storm’s individual ability to intervene.
The testimony did not confirm whether Storm could alter the mixer’s smart contracts or block unwanted flows.
This issue remains critical to the case, which hinges on whether Storm had any real control over the platform after its launch.
Storm’s Team Prepares Defense With Chainalysis Expert
Prosecutors plan to conclude their case on Thursday morning. The defense will then begin presenting witnesses.
According to Inner City Press, Storm’s lawyers intend to call “two or three doctors” and may also include an expert from Chainalysis.
The blockchain analysis testimony is expected to focus on wallet attribution and control.
Storm faces federal charges for money laundering, unlicensed money transmission, and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions through his role in Tornado Cash. The trial continues in New York federal court.
