The developer of the crypto mix protocol Tornado Cash is now preparing for his appeal while behind bars.
Alex Pertsev is in prison after being found guilty of money laundering by the East Brabant court sentenced him to 64 months in prison in May.
Pertsev was convicted for his involvement in the creation of Tornado Cash, which allows users to hide their crypto transactions through embezzlement.
In a statement on the social media platform X, Pertsev said say the court detains him as he prepares to appeal his case. He says the court’s decision will derail his ability to challenge the initial conviction.
“I regret to inform you that despite our best efforts, the court has decided to extend my pre-trial detention. This decision significantly complicates my ability to prepare for the profession, but I remain committed to continuing to fight for justice.”
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Tornado Cash in 2022 for helping launder more than $7 billion in crypto assets, including those of the North Korean government-linked hackers, the Lazarus Group.
Earlier this month, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-California) and six other members of the U.S. House of Representatives spoke wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who opposes the fact that Tornado Cash is still online and functioning despite the sanctions.
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