An indictment has been unsealed in federal court naming Roger Ver, also known as “Bitcoin Jesus” for his early adoption of Bitcoin, according to the Department of Justice. The indictment was filed on February 15, 2024. Ver has been charged with mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. However, it is essential to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
According to court records, Ver was born in Santa Clara, California in 1979. He allegedly obtained citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis on February 4, 2014, and subsequently renounced his U.S. citizenship. As part of expatriation, Ver was required to file tax returns reporting capital gains from the sale of his worldwide assets, including Bitcoin, and pay an exit tax on those gains. Prosecutors allege that by February 4, 2014, Ver and his companies owned approximately 131,000 Bitcoins, with Ver beginning to acquire Bitcoins as early as April 2011.
Ver hired a law firm to assist him with his expatriation and prepare his expatriation-related tax returns. However, prosecutors allege that Ver provided false information to the law firm and appraiser, concealing the true number of Bitcoins he owned. As a result, false tax returns were filed that undervalued Ver’s companies and their Bitcoins. Despite renouncing U.S. citizenship, Ver was still legally required to report and pay tax on certain distributions, such as dividends from his U.S. corporations.
In June 2017, Ver’s companies continued to own approximately 70,000 Bitcoins, which Ver allegedly took possession of and sold on cryptocurrency exchanges for $240 million in cash. Even though he was not a U.S. citizen, Ver was required to report and pay tax on these transactions. However, prosecutors claim that Ver failed to report any gain or pay tax related to the distribution of those Bitcoins. As a result, the IRS allegedly suffered a loss of at least $48 million.
Ver’s arrest came following an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation’s cybercrimes unit. Despite being arrested in Spain based on U.S. criminal charges, the U.S. will seek Ver’s extradition to face trial. Ver’s attorney, Bryan C. Skarlatos, stated that they are disappointed by the arrest and believe the prosecution should not have been brought. Skarlatos maintains that Ver relied on tax professionals to help him report his Bitcoin and intended to comply with his tax obligations.
Ver’s social media activity has hinted at the possibility of legal trouble, with a tweet earlier in the week stating, “Don’t expect bad people to do good things.” Ver has a significant following on X, where his account is verified. He recently released a book titled “Hijacking Bitcoin: The Hidden History of BTC,” promising to reveal the hidden history of Bitcoin. This arrest has brought support and curiosity from Ver’s followers, with many expressing their support for him in response to the news of his indictment.
