Bitcoin Investor Roger Ver Indicted on Charges of Mail Fraud, Tax Evasion, and Filing False Tax Returns
The cryptocurrency world was rocked this week as news broke of the indictment of Roger Ver, a prominent early investor in bitcoin. The U.S. Department of Justice revealed three charges against Ver, including alleged mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns.
Ver, who was arrested in Spain over the weekend, is accused of concealing his ownership of bitcoin from the IRS, resulting in a purported loss of $48 million. The indictment alleges that Ver’s companies owned around 70,000 bitcoins in 2017, which he later sold for approximately $240 million in cash.
Despite renouncing his U.S. citizenship in 2014, Ver was still legally required to report and pay taxes on certain distributions from his U.S. corporations. The DOJ claims that Ver used legal services to prepare and file false tax returns, undervaluing his companies and concealing his bitcoin holdings.
Known as “bitcoin Jesus” in the online community, Ver was the former CEO of Bitcoin.com and a resident of Santa Clara, California. The news of his arrest and indictment has sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency industry.
As the case unfolds, the crypto community will be watching closely to see how it impacts the future of bitcoin and the broader digital currency market. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
