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I've seen people saying "lol, obviously" in response to the Roger Ver news.

It wasn't obvious to me.

The guy went through the absurdly unpleasant/ expensive process (from what I've heard) of renouncing citizenship 10 years ago, part of his reason was (afaik) to avoid the worldwide taxation imposed on US citizens. IIRC he principally lived in Japan during all those years. And to state the obvious, he was already *very* rich by 2014, even during that bear market.

Given that he went through that exit tax process, how much sense would it have made to forge and defraud in his filings. Maybe it's just me, but I would have bent over backwards to do everything 100% by the book so I could finally put this behind me. Say you lose 20 or 30% at that point ... it's clearly worth it if you're that rich, and you've gone that far down the road.

Maybe he acted stupidly or sneakily, I'm not discounting it, but I would not take the US 3 letter agencies at their word here; just look at the modus operandi of the SEC as an example - "you didn't follow the rules" - "but we hired a lawyer and there were no clearly written rules" - "lol you got it wrong, your pet gerbil is a security" etc.

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Discussion

Peter Todd 1y ago

It's quite possible that the government is alleging he had money that he did not based on faulty (chain) surveillance, or outright fraud on the part of the prosecutors.

There's a reason these are just allegations.

waxwing 1y ago

Given the recent Stirlingov case, I guess we have to hope on Roger's behalf that that's not true, because apparently a defendant has no right to question, or even *see* such 'evidence'.

H.M. Murdock 1y ago

Fair points.

Fred Johnston 1y ago

The tax code is so complicated, we are all made criminals at some point or another. It's ridiculous. If you are a tax paying citizen, you are an enemy of the state.

It's VERY likely Ver did something wrong - matter of fact it's almost guaranteed if they want to get you.

Furthermore, if you give up US Citizenship ALL your assets are taxed at what the Government considers 'fair market value' - which is ALWAYS subjective. So if you have $200K in income/capital gains, and $5 million in assets - you are taxed on BOTH. Basically the US Government seizes your assets as you leave. This should be illegal.

Hazey 1y ago

They don't seem too concerned with legality

Filipe Martinho 1y ago

Very interesting analysis, didn't consider it from this pov. Let's see how it plays out...

Matthew Kuraja 1y ago

Roger Very was politically targeted after he ran for office in California. The ATF took offense to what he said at his podium speeches and were insistent the judge presiding over some trumped up charges send him to prison for a year. He became irreconcilably disillusioned about the US government since then and began his pilgrimage out and away from the American Empire.

It's bullshit how they're trying to harvest his prosperity a decade after formally agreeing to let him be.

Azz 1y ago

I think this saga is going to damage the American credibility in the eyes of everyday people. Hopefully he is still loaded and can get excellent representation and make a song about the unjust laws.

Bitcoin Belle 1y ago

Nope! His "Taxation is theft" claim along with the posted check for upwards of $200K so he could attend a conference was weak af. And how did he only get 9 months post 9/11 for felony conviction for selling bomb making materials. Nope, nope, nope.