LOS ANGELES, CA – Roger Ver, an early cryptocurrency investor once hailed as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has reached a deal with federal prosecutors to resolve criminal tax charges, agreeing to pay nearly $50 million in back taxes, penalties, and interest.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that Ver entered into a deferred prosecution agreement, acknowledging he willfully failed to report millions in bitcoin-related capital gains after renouncing his U.S. citizenship in 2014.
As part of the resolution, the government moved to dismiss the criminal indictment against him after payment and admission of wrongdoing.
Failure to disclose bitcoin holdings during expatriation
According to court documents, Ver, who obtained citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis, was required to file expatriation-related tax returns and pay capital gains taxes on his global assets. When filing those returns in 2016, he failed to report the full extent of his bitcoin holdings, resulting in more than $16.8 million in unpaid taxes.
Ver admitted that his actions were willful and that he intentionally underreported his assets. He agreed to pay the maximum civil penalty allowed under federal law — more than $12 million — in addition to taxes and accrued interest.
Federal officials emphasize accountability in cryptocurrency taxation
Associate Deputy Attorney General Ketan D. Bhirud said the case underscores that “whether you deal in dollars or digital assets, you must file accurate tax returns and pay what you owe.” Acting U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California added that Ver’s agreement reflects accountability for all taxpayers, regardless of wealth or financial sophistication.
Kareem Carter, Executive Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Washington, D.C., said the resolution “demonstrates that there are consequences for those who intentionally conceal their assets and evade their tax obligations.”
IRS cyber unit led the investigation
The investigation was conducted by the Cyber Crimes Unit of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Washington, D.C. Field Office, which specializes in tracing digital assets and enforcing tax compliance involving cryptocurrency transactions.
For “Bitcoin Jesus,” the conversion from crypto to compliance came with a $50 million price tag.