Roman Semenov, the Russian national, and Roman Storm, were charged with laundering and violating sanctions through Tornado Cash, a crypto “mixer” that allegedly laundered more than $1 billion, including hundreds of millions that went to Lazarus Group, a North Korean cybercrime organization, the indictment alleged.
The third co-founder of Tornado Cash, who was unnamed in the indictment, was arrested on money laundering charges in the Netherlands last year, the Treasury said.
Tornado Cash is one of the most well-known mixers, and it, along with much of the crypto industry, was under growing regulatory scrutiny.
Lazarus Group, the North Korean organization, allegedly used Tornado Cash in April and May 2022, the US attorney’s office said, in violation of US sanctions.
The US Department of the Treasury sanctioned Tornado Cash last year, alleging it laundered more than $7 billion worth of crypto since 2019.
Persons:
Roman Semenov, “, Damian Williams, Semenov, Storm, Tornado Cash, ”, Brian Klein, “ Mr, ” Klein, Lazarus
Organizations:
New, New York CNN, Russian, North, Court, Tornado, Lazarus Group, Storm, US, Office, Treasury, DOJ, US Treasury, Korean, US Department of
Locations:
New York, Washington, Southern, Russian, Roman, Korean, Netherlands