In a stunning turn of events, cryptocurrency billionaire Roger Ver, known as "Bitcoin Jesus," has avoided prison despite being under indictment for millions in tax evasion. The case against him was significantly weakened by the intervention of one of Donald Trump's most influential lawyers, Christopher Kise.
Ver had been charged with failing to pay taxes on his vast fortune, which he amassed through his involvement in the early days of cryptocurrency. He had renounced his US citizenship years earlier and had been living on the Spanish island of Mallorca.
However, just nine months after Ver made a direct appeal to Trump for help, he reached a deal with the Justice Department that allowed him to avoid criminal charges. The agreement required Ver to pay $49.9 million in taxes and penalties, which is roughly the amount he was accused of evading.
The case against Ver highlights the growing influence of Trump's former personal attorneys within the Justice Department. These lawyers, who have been dubbed "Friends of Trump," have become known for their ability to use their connections to get favorable treatment for clients.
Kise, in particular, played a key role in negotiating Ver's deal. He is a seasoned defense lawyer who has worked closely with Trump on numerous cases and has become one of the most influential figures within the Justice Department.
The case against Ver also marks a significant shift in the way that the Justice Department approaches white-collar crime enforcement. Under the Trump administration, prosecutors have been less aggressive in pursuing cases involving high-net-worth individuals, and have instead focused on more lenient agreements.
As one former federal tax prosecutor noted, "People always ask you, 'Can't I just pay the taxes and it'll go away?' The common answer that everybody gave — until the Trump administration — was that, no, you can't do that."
The outcome of Ver's case has sent a message to other wealthy individuals who are under investigation for tax evasion or other white-collar crimes. Lawyers in this field say that more and more clients are asking about the influence of "Friends of Trump" within the Justice Department.
Ver himself has always maintained that he did not intentionally evade taxes, but rather relied on the advice of accountants and tax attorneys to navigate the complexities of cryptocurrency taxation. However, prosecutors argue that Ver's actions were deliberately deceitful and that he should be held accountable for his actions.
In any case, Ver's case highlights the growing power dynamics within the Justice Department, where Trump's former personal attorneys are increasingly wielding significant influence over policy decisions.
Ver had been charged with failing to pay taxes on his vast fortune, which he amassed through his involvement in the early days of cryptocurrency. He had renounced his US citizenship years earlier and had been living on the Spanish island of Mallorca.
However, just nine months after Ver made a direct appeal to Trump for help, he reached a deal with the Justice Department that allowed him to avoid criminal charges. The agreement required Ver to pay $49.9 million in taxes and penalties, which is roughly the amount he was accused of evading.
The case against Ver highlights the growing influence of Trump's former personal attorneys within the Justice Department. These lawyers, who have been dubbed "Friends of Trump," have become known for their ability to use their connections to get favorable treatment for clients.
Kise, in particular, played a key role in negotiating Ver's deal. He is a seasoned defense lawyer who has worked closely with Trump on numerous cases and has become one of the most influential figures within the Justice Department.
The case against Ver also marks a significant shift in the way that the Justice Department approaches white-collar crime enforcement. Under the Trump administration, prosecutors have been less aggressive in pursuing cases involving high-net-worth individuals, and have instead focused on more lenient agreements.
As one former federal tax prosecutor noted, "People always ask you, 'Can't I just pay the taxes and it'll go away?' The common answer that everybody gave — until the Trump administration — was that, no, you can't do that."
The outcome of Ver's case has sent a message to other wealthy individuals who are under investigation for tax evasion or other white-collar crimes. Lawyers in this field say that more and more clients are asking about the influence of "Friends of Trump" within the Justice Department.
Ver himself has always maintained that he did not intentionally evade taxes, but rather relied on the advice of accountants and tax attorneys to navigate the complexities of cryptocurrency taxation. However, prosecutors argue that Ver's actions were deliberately deceitful and that he should be held accountable for his actions.
In any case, Ver's case highlights the growing power dynamics within the Justice Department, where Trump's former personal attorneys are increasingly wielding significant influence over policy decisions.
I gotta say, this whole thing with Roger Ver is wild 
. Like, you can't just pay taxes and expect everything to be okay, right? 
And now that it's all said and done, I'm kinda worried about the message this sends to others who might be in similar situations. It feels like the Justice Department is giving them a get-out-free card 
, which isn't exactly fair to everyone else who has to follow the rules.
. I'm all for people advocating for their clients, but there needs to be some level of accountability here.
. If we start letting people with deep pockets and influential connections get away with questionable behavior, where do we draw the line? It's not exactly the kind of transparency and justice we're supposed to be aiming for 
.
. Who needs prison when you've got 'Friends of Trump' in your corner 
"
. It just shows how connected these rich people can be and how it affects the system. I mean, $49.9 million is a lot of money, but if he didn't pay his taxes on time, that's not right. And now we're seeing more people trying to play with the system because they think they can get away with it. 
, and I don't want our justice system to be about who knows the right person, not about what's fair and right.
. I hope the politicians will make sure that this kind of thing doesn't happen again in the future 
.
. I mean, $49.9 million isn't even a drop in the bucket for someone like Roger Ver. It's just another example of how the system is rigged against regular people who can't afford to play with the big boys. And now that we know Christopher Kise is pulling strings from behind the scenes, it's clear that there's no level too high for influence peddling. The whole thing stinks of corruption and abuse of power 
.
. I mean, who needs to follow tax laws when you've got a friend in Trump's crew? It's all about who you know, right? 
. It's all about power dynamics now, and who gets to decide what's "fair" and what's not 
.
. I mean, what if other people with deep pockets start using those "friends" to get out of trouble? It's a slippery slope, you know?
. And Kise is definitely a seasoned pro – I've heard good things about him, but at the same time, it's hard not to wonder if his connections are, you know, kinda unfair? 
, 49.9 million bucks in taxes and penalties? That's still a lot of money 
. How many other people got away with similar stuff before the Trump era? We need to make sure justice is served, not just for high-net-worth folks 
it's all about playing by the rules (or not) 
he was supposed to go to prison for millions but instead he just pays 50 million and gets off scot free 
what does this say about the justice system in america? it seems like money talks more than morals 
. $49.9 million in taxes and penalties? That's peanuts for someone who's made millions off the back of cryptocurrency 
. And let's not forget, Kise is basically Trump's personal lawyer for hire 
.
. If you're friends with Trump, you can pretty much get away with just about anything within the Justice Department 
It's crazy that his connections to Trump's team were able to sway the outcome like that. 
Like, what even is going on here? I mean, millions in tax evasion and he gets off with a slap on the wrist? It sounds like more of a handout to me