Christian Verdun Responds to Forfeiture Complaint, Claims Innocent Ownership of Seized Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash

On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, claimant Christian Verdun filed an answer in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York regarding the forfeiture of approximately 8.18866208 Bitcoin and 8.18865895 Bitcoin Cash. These assets were seized from a BitGo account, which is jointly held by Verdun and his spouse, Alia Tsang.

In his verified answer to the plaintiff’s complaint, Verdun admitted to the seizure of the digital currencies but denied any allegations suggesting that the assets are linked to illegal activity. He stated that he had no knowledge of the allegations made against him in the complaint, particularly those pertaining to potential criminal conduct.

The complaint outlines various claims regarding the origin of the seized cryptocurrencies, suggesting a connection to the defunct Mt. Gox Bitcoin exchange, which ceased operations in February 2014. Verdun acknowledged that he had opened an account with Mt. Gox and that during its operation, he conducted numerous transactions related to the sale of his artwork, receiving payments in Bitcoin. However, he maintained that the seized assets are not traceable to any illicit activities.

In addition to denying the allegations, Verdun presented multiple affirmative defenses. He claimed that the court lacks jurisdiction over the property and argued that the complaint is defective under federal statutes. He asserted that the government failed to provide adequate notice of the seizure, which he contends violates legal requirements.

Verdun also contended that the assets should not be subject to forfeiture under federal law, asserting his status as an “innocent owner” of the property. He emphasized that he had no knowledge of any illegal transactions associated with his Mt. Gox account and maintained that the seized assets were acquired legitimately as a result of the sale of his artwork.

Furthermore, Verdun demanded a jury trial to address the forfeiture claims. He requested the immediate return of the seized Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, along with any increase in value since the time of seizure, as well as interest on the property’s value.

Please contact BlockTribune for access to a copy of this filing.