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BEWARE OF THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) - careers are more inportant than justice!
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Bitcoin Association Switzerland has invited the lawyers of a Swedish/Russian citizen to Europe for a lecture series https://www.meetup.com/bitcoin-meetup-switzerland/events/292105095/.
Their client, Roman Sterlingov, was charged with “money laundering” and “conspiracy against the US” in 2021 and arrested during a trip to the US that same year. Since May 2021, Roman has been imprisoned indefinitely!
See story in WIRED: https://www.wired.com/story/bitcoin-fog-roman-sterlingov-blockchain-analysis/. DOJ: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/individual-arrested-and-charged-operating-notorious-darknet-cryptocurrency-mixer
The lawyers are convinced of the innocence of their client, the evidence is a disgrace and the motives for this "judicial scandal" are also a danger for citizens outside the USA!
Why this case is being pursued by the DOJ:
1. US Department of Justice DOJ staff seek high-profile cases that will serve to advance their careers. Money laundering, Bitcoin, Darknet are popular labels under which judicial authorities also push cases where the evidence is objectively non-existent instead of dropping them!
In such a situation, common sense pleads for "dismissal and release". The opposite behavior of the DOJ is best described by the Economic Theory of Bureaucracy - see https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96konomische_Theorie_der_B%C3%BCrokratie.
The conviction of the suspect, or a "guilty plea against reduced sentence", would be a career success for those involved and would legitimize further "battles against Darknet, money laundering, Bitcoin & Co.".
2. The second beneficiary is called Chainalysis - https://www.chainalysis.com/
The DOJ is using the company's analysis tools to indict Roman. The lawyers refer to these tools as “blockchain analysis tools that is junk science and does not withstand scrutiny”. Bitcoin experts confirm their assessment!
However, the orders from the DOJ increase the company value of Chainalyis: While $13m in capital was raised in the Series B round in July 2020, it was already $100m in November. In April 2021, Chainalysis Head Strategy Jonathan Levin said that Roman's arrest is proof that "Chainalyis's type of blockchain forensics works.
According to Bloomberg, the company is already valued at $8.6 billion (The $8.6 Billion Startup that helps Governments Trace Crypto) - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-21/crypto-tracer-chainalysis-busts-bitcoin-btc-anonymity#xj4y7vzkg?leadSource=uverify%20wall
Once again, justice is sacrificed on the altar of profit!
Conclusion
Some may remember the Raoul Weil case, the UBS banker who was charged in the US with “conspiring against the US”, arrested in Italy and then imprisoned in the US. The DOJ's behavior was identical to the present case. Weil finally won the case. It paid its attorneys $3m. In a book he describes how "his life became a nightmare in the clutches of the US judiciary".
Roman Sterlingov still has his life ahead of him, but he doesn't have the resources of Raoul Weil. His case is hopeless at the moment. He needs help. That is why the Bitcoin Association Switzerland has invited his lawyers to Europe.
Roman needs help! He needs a public opinion that stands by his side and against the public prosecutor's office, which is financed with taxpayers' money.
No indefite imprisonment for people and unlimited taxpayser money for prosecutors.
www.torekeland.com
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