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Ethereum dev must face jury for allegedly helping North Korea evade sanctions Virgil Griffith, a crypto developer accused of helping North Korea evade sanctions through speaking at a Pyongyang crypto conference in 2019, must now face a jury. 20390 Total views News
A New York federal judge has denied an Ethereum developer’s motion to dismiss criminal charges over allegations he assisted the North Korean regime to bypass U.S. sanctions.
The developer and former-hacker, Virgil Griffith, is accused of helping North Korea evade economic sanctions by delivering a speech during a Pyongyang blockchain conference in April 2019.
Griffith also requested a bill of particulars, claiming he was unable to prepare for the hearing as the four-page indictment against him was “short and vague,” and lacked specific detail outlining his criminal conduct. However, the judge also rejected this request, finding that “adequate notice of the charges against Griffith” had been provided
Federal Court Rejects Motion Filed by Crypto Developer Virgil Griffith to Dismiss Charges on Aiding North Korea
A U.S. federal judge has rejected a motion filed by a former Ethereum Foundation developer over allegations of assisting North Korea to bypass sanctions. Prosecutors claim, Virgil Griffith, aided the regime by providing critical information on cryptocurrencies.
Prosecutors Say Griffith’s Speech Was About the Use of Cryptos to Circumvent Sanctions
Per Law360, a jury is now set to determine if Griffith violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by giving a speech at the Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference in 2019.
Kevin Castel, a U.S. District Judge, denied Griffith’s motion because the “short and vague” four-page indictment lacked specific details of his alleged criminal actions. He further commented on the matter:
Virgil Griffith’s Motion to Dismiss Suffers Setback, Case Heads to Trial
Last Updated: 29 January 2021
Virgil Griffith, the Ethereum developer who got in trouble with the United States government for his participation in a North Korean conference, has suffered a setback in his defense.
This week, a court denied Griffith’s motion to dismiss the criminal charges against him. This means his case heads to trial, where he would face a jury.
No Way Out of This One
A New York federal judge has rejected Griffith’s motion to dismiss the government’s case against him, setting the stage for a trial later this year, Law 360 reports.