Ross Ulbricht, known for creating the Silk Road, has advocated for the release of Roger Ver, who was recently detained in Spain following accusations of Bitcoin tax fraud.
Ver’s arrest was instigated by an indictment from the U.S. Department of Justice alleging he engaged in tax violations amounting to $50 million, particularly involving underreporting his Bitcoin (BTC) earnings and failing to file the appropriate tax returns.
Despite these serious allegations, which stem from his renouncement of U.S. citizenship in 2014, Ver has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the U.S. is overreaching in its legal actions against him.
“Roger Ver was there for me when I needed support. Now, he needs our help,” Ulbricht expressed in a statement on February 20. Ulbricht has personal experience with the U.S. justice system, having served over 11 years in a maximum-security prison. He was recently released after receiving a presidential pardon.
Ver is facing significant legal challenges with potential prison time of up to 20 years if convicted. The DOJ has charged him with three counts of mail fraud, two counts of tax evasion, and three counts of filing false tax returns.
The mail fraud charges alone could result in a 20-year sentence for each count. Ulbricht remarked, “No one should face life in prison over tax issues. Just let him pay any taxes owed and move on.” Crypto attorney James Murphy echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the Justice Department may ultimately dismiss the case.
