“Bitcoin Jesus” Roger Ver Charged with Cheating Uncle Sam Out of $48 Million in Taxes

The story of Roger Ver, the American-born cryptocurrency investor known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has taken a dramatic turn as he faces charges of cheating the US government out of $48 million in taxes. Ver, who renounced his US citizenship in 2014 and became a national of St. Kitts and Nevis, was arrested in Spain over the weekend.

The 45-year-old Ver, a millionaire bitcoin investor, has been indicted on charges of mail fraud and filing false tax returns. The US government plans to seek his extradition after the indictment was filed in Los Angeles federal court.

Ver’s lawyer, Bryan Skarlatos, expressed surprise at the arrest and stated that Ver had always intended to comply with his US tax obligations. The indictment alleges that Ver provided false information to his law firm and undervalued his companies and bitcoins on his tax returns.

This news comes on the same day that Changpeng Zhao, founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, was sentenced to four months in prison for money laundering. Ver, who has been a vocal advocate for bitcoin and cryptocurrency, has previously defended individuals charged with money laundering.

The indictment alleges that Ver failed to pay taxes on profits from the sale of bitcoins and distributions from his companies, depriving the IRS of $48 million in taxes from 2014 to 2017. The case highlights the complexities of taxation in the cryptocurrency world and the consequences of failing to comply with tax laws.

As the story unfolds, the cryptocurrency community will be watching closely to see how Ver’s case progresses and what impact it may have on the industry as a whole.