After deliberating for four days without reaching a consensus, the jury in the Roman Storm trial informed the court that they were unable to come to an agreement on all counts.
Presiding Judge Katherine Polk Failla then instructed the jury with an “Allen charge,” a direction to re-examine their views and make an effort to find common ground.
Brian Klein, Storm’s legal representative, voiced opposition to the judge’s instruction, as indicated in a report published by Inner City Press on August 6th. Klein argued that the jury’s inability to reach a unanimous verdict was evident, and suggested that the court consider accepting a partial verdict.
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The prosecution, however, expressed a desire for the discussions to continue. Assistant US Attorney Thane Arad stated, “Let’s deal with that issue when it arises.” The judge sided with the government, permitting the jury to resume their deliberations.
This decision extended the duration of the trial and averted a premature mistrial. It also highlighted the significant disagreements among the jurors regarding specific aspects of the case.
Later that day, the jury reached a verdict on one of the charges. Storm was found guilty of participating in a conspiracy to operate an unauthorized money transmitting business.
This conviction alone carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years. The verdict was delivered in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
However, the jury remained deadlocked on two additional charges: conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate North Korean sanctions.
On July 26th, Storm filed a request for additional funding to cover his mounting legal costs. Want to know more? Get the details here.