The audacious plan crystallized over a lobster dinner in Puerto Rico. That’s where a self-styled connector for the MAGA era says he and a child actor-turned-crypto enthusiast hatched an idea to secure a presidential pardon for Bitcoin booster Roger Ver and make millions for themselves in the process.
The men, Matt Argall and Brock Pierce, had only tenuous ties to the entrepreneur known as Bitcoin Jesus, but they knew he was angling for a grant of clemency from President Donald Trump, who had just been elected to a second term. Most importantly, the pair suspected Ver was a billionaire, and figured that if all went accordingly, he’d be willing to pay $30 million for their efforts.
So Argall reached out to Ver, who was under indictment for tax evasion, offering to assemble a group of people with strong connections to Washington insiders who could help push the administration for a pardon. He proposed Ver wire $10 million to a trustee account to set the process in motion and cough up an additional $20 million success fee for him and his associates once the pardon came through, according to communications reviewed by Bloomberg News and confirmed by people with direct knowledge of the matter.
It’s unclear whether Argall and his associates had genuine connections to people with power, much less the clout to persuade them that Ver’s pardon was a worthy cause. The White House denied any knowledge of the plan.
But the episode shows how people on the periphery of the MAGA movement are touting supposed ties to Trump and other administration officials to try to persuade white-collar defendants to fork over money. Those pitchmen, promising to try to get the cases in front of the White House, are increasingly seeking to cash in on the clemency business, a space once largely populated by pro-bono advocates.
While the fee proposed to Ver is at the higher end of the scale, other lobbyists, lawyers and consultants are offering more a la carte options to potential clients; a $5,000 finder’s fee to be put in touch with someone who knows someone or $1 million to prepare an application that is intended to appeal to Trump’s grievances about overzealous prosecutions.
In a series of communications over encrypted networks earlier this year, Argall and Pierce formulated a plan for Ver. At times, other potential participants with conservative credentials and clemency track records were brought into the discussion. Those people have since denied playing any significant role in the effort.
The game plan, according to people familiar with the pitch and a review of communications, went something like this: Try to convince as many MAGA influencers as possible of the merits of Ver’s cause, present Ver as someone who was treated unfairly, and leverage purported relationships with senior White House officials to get the case in front of Trump.
White House spokesman Harrison Fields said all pardon applications are thoroughly reviewed by the pardon czar and White House counsel’s office.
“The pardon process is a serious one, and outside grifters trying to make a big buck by overstating access to the White House will realize that soon enough,” he said. “The president, after consulting with his senior advisers, will have the final say on pardons.”
‘Lord Argall’
Ver had a reputation as one of cryptocurrency’s most effective promoters when the industry was still in its infancy. Last year, he was charged with tax evasion and mail fraud, accused of hiding gains from selling $240 million in tokens.
Ver has since asked a judge to dismiss the criminal indictment against him, arguing he followed a lawyer’s advice about tax obligations when he relinquished his citizenship and moved to Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2014. A media representative for Ver didn’t respond to requests for comment.
After the 2024 presidential election, Ver joined a chorus of prosecuted crypto investors angling for relief from Trump. He used social media to build a pardon campaign and sat down for interviews with conservative commentators to discuss his battle with US authorities.
Ver’s play was further spotlighted in May when the Wall Street Journal reported that associates of the crypto investor had offered $5 million to $10 million to lobbyists to try to secure him a pardon. Ver’s attorney David Schoen said that no one intended to pay for a pardon for Ver.
Early this year, Argall began reaching out to Ver, offering to advocate for his freedom. An associate described him as a dealmaker. Argall told people he has helped companies secure lucrative government contracts, according to communications reviewed by Bloomberg.
He previously ran call centers near Tampa, Florida, selling health supplements like African mangoes and açaí, with one client describing him in a LinkedIn post as a guy with a bleached Mohawk who could sell anything to anyone.
While his LinkedIn profile photo featured him with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Argall, whose email signature reads “from the desk of Lord Argall,” didn’t appear to have any clear connections to Trump’s inner circle. His pitch to Ver leaned heavily on the purported political sway of others.
A spokesman for Kennedy didn’t respond to requests for comment.
In the communications reviewed by Bloomberg, Argall said that Ver’s situation was brought to his attention by Washington lobbyist Robert Wasinger, who is described on his biography page as one of the first senior members of Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Wasinger and Ver were first in contact in late 2024 about lobbying for a potential pardon, but the lobbyist wasn’t retained, people familiar with the matter said. Wasinger had success in the clemency world before, having helped Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy secure a pardon during the first Trump administration, according to people with knowledge of the case.
Wasinger declined to comment through a spokesperson.
In communications earlier this year with Ver, Argall’s friend Pierce — who starred in the Disney film The Mighty Ducks as a child — was involved. One of the co-founders of Tether, Pierce is now chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation and darts between Washington and Puerto Rico, where he bought an old W Hotel that has been at the center of costly litigation.
During one of their interactions in January, Pierce thanked Ver for his contribution to the crypto industry, assuring the indicted investor that he had his back, according to a review of the communications. That same day, Argall posted photographs on Instagram of an ocean sunset and him and Pierce, drinks in hand.
During some of the communications, Argall suggested that people who would help work on Ver’s case had supposed connections to senior officials in Trump’s orbit.
Pierce, Argall said in an interview, knew Ver from their early crypto days and estimated Ver’s net worth was somewhere from $10 billion to $20 billion. Pierce and Argall figured that asking Ver to pay them a $20 million success fee for securing his pardon was more than reasonable, Argall told Bloomberg.
Argall said in the interview that initially, he thought Ver was serious about engaging him and others to lobby his cause, and that he traveled to Washington on multiple occasions to lay the groundwork.
Schoen, Ver’s attorney, told Bloomberg he believed the people behind the pardon proposal “were falsely claiming to have high-level contacts.”
“It is absolutely clear to me that no one in the White House had any part in this process,” Schoen said.
Argall, in the interview with Bloomberg, said that he saw himself as a connector. “This wasn’t about me trying to make dough,” he said. “If I made this happen, since my guys came through, hook me up after.”
He said the money could have been used to fund a crypto project. Or maybe he’d just get “good karma” for helping Ver.
Pierce didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.
In February, Argall introduced Ver to Washington lawyer Jesse Binnall, who had represented Trump in litigation tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots, and touted him as possibly being able to help, according to communications reviewed by Bloomberg.
Binnall outlined his track record advocating conservative causes before mapping out a rough path to securing a presidential pardon. He didn’t speak or agree when Argall reiterated the $30 million fee structure to Ver, according to the communications.
“Binnall’s sole involvement in the Ver matter was limited to a single phone call,” a spokesperson for the Binnall Law Group said. “He had no role whatsoever in setting, negotiating or pursuing any fee of any amount, nor did he take on the client or have any further involvement in the matter.”
By March, the ambitious plot appears to have fizzled out, with an email reviewed by Bloomberg showing Ver ignored follow-up texts and calls from Argall.
The men, Matt Argall and Brock Pierce, had only tenuous ties to the entrepreneur known as Bitcoin Jesus, but they knew he was angling for a grant of clemency from President Donald Trump, who had just been elected to a second term. Most importantly, the pair suspected Ver was a billionaire, and figured that if all went accordingly, he’d be willing to pay $30 million for their efforts.
So Argall reached out to Ver, who was under indictment for tax evasion, offering to assemble a group of people with strong connections to Washington insiders who could help push the administration for a pardon. He proposed Ver wire $10 million to a trustee account to set the process in motion and cough up an additional $20 million success fee for him and his associates once the pardon came through, according to communications reviewed by Bloomberg News and confirmed by people with direct knowledge of the matter.
It’s unclear whether Argall and his associates had genuine connections to people with power, much less the clout to persuade them that Ver’s pardon was a worthy cause. The White House denied any knowledge of the plan.
But the episode shows how people on the periphery of the MAGA movement are touting supposed ties to Trump and other administration officials to try to persuade white-collar defendants to fork over money. Those pitchmen, promising to try to get the cases in front of the White House, are increasingly seeking to cash in on the clemency business, a space once largely populated by pro-bono advocates.
While the fee proposed to Ver is at the higher end of the scale, other lobbyists, lawyers and consultants are offering more a la carte options to potential clients; a $5,000 finder’s fee to be put in touch with someone who knows someone or $1 million to prepare an application that is intended to appeal to Trump’s grievances about overzealous prosecutions.
In a series of communications over encrypted networks earlier this year, Argall and Pierce formulated a plan for Ver. At times, other potential participants with conservative credentials and clemency track records were brought into the discussion. Those people have since denied playing any significant role in the effort.
The game plan, according to people familiar with the pitch and a review of communications, went something like this: Try to convince as many MAGA influencers as possible of the merits of Ver’s cause, present Ver as someone who was treated unfairly, and leverage purported relationships with senior White House officials to get the case in front of Trump.
White House spokesman Harrison Fields said all pardon applications are thoroughly reviewed by the pardon czar and White House counsel’s office.
“The pardon process is a serious one, and outside grifters trying to make a big buck by overstating access to the White House will realize that soon enough,” he said. “The president, after consulting with his senior advisers, will have the final say on pardons.”
‘Lord Argall’
Ver had a reputation as one of cryptocurrency’s most effective promoters when the industry was still in its infancy. Last year, he was charged with tax evasion and mail fraud, accused of hiding gains from selling $240 million in tokens.
Ver has since asked a judge to dismiss the criminal indictment against him, arguing he followed a lawyer’s advice about tax obligations when he relinquished his citizenship and moved to Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2014. A media representative for Ver didn’t respond to requests for comment.
After the 2024 presidential election, Ver joined a chorus of prosecuted crypto investors angling for relief from Trump. He used social media to build a pardon campaign and sat down for interviews with conservative commentators to discuss his battle with US authorities.
Ver’s play was further spotlighted in May when the Wall Street Journal reported that associates of the crypto investor had offered $5 million to $10 million to lobbyists to try to secure him a pardon. Ver’s attorney David Schoen said that no one intended to pay for a pardon for Ver.
Early this year, Argall began reaching out to Ver, offering to advocate for his freedom. An associate described him as a dealmaker. Argall told people he has helped companies secure lucrative government contracts, according to communications reviewed by Bloomberg.
He previously ran call centers near Tampa, Florida, selling health supplements like African mangoes and açaí, with one client describing him in a LinkedIn post as a guy with a bleached Mohawk who could sell anything to anyone.
While his LinkedIn profile photo featured him with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Argall, whose email signature reads “from the desk of Lord Argall,” didn’t appear to have any clear connections to Trump’s inner circle. His pitch to Ver leaned heavily on the purported political sway of others.
A spokesman for Kennedy didn’t respond to requests for comment.
In the communications reviewed by Bloomberg, Argall said that Ver’s situation was brought to his attention by Washington lobbyist Robert Wasinger, who is described on his biography page as one of the first senior members of Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Wasinger and Ver were first in contact in late 2024 about lobbying for a potential pardon, but the lobbyist wasn’t retained, people familiar with the matter said. Wasinger had success in the clemency world before, having helped Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy secure a pardon during the first Trump administration, according to people with knowledge of the case.
Wasinger declined to comment through a spokesperson.
In communications earlier this year with Ver, Argall’s friend Pierce — who starred in the Disney film The Mighty Ducks as a child — was involved. One of the co-founders of Tether, Pierce is now chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation and darts between Washington and Puerto Rico, where he bought an old W Hotel that has been at the center of costly litigation.
During one of their interactions in January, Pierce thanked Ver for his contribution to the crypto industry, assuring the indicted investor that he had his back, according to a review of the communications. That same day, Argall posted photographs on Instagram of an ocean sunset and him and Pierce, drinks in hand.
During some of the communications, Argall suggested that people who would help work on Ver’s case had supposed connections to senior officials in Trump’s orbit.
Pierce, Argall said in an interview, knew Ver from their early crypto days and estimated Ver’s net worth was somewhere from $10 billion to $20 billion. Pierce and Argall figured that asking Ver to pay them a $20 million success fee for securing his pardon was more than reasonable, Argall told Bloomberg.
Argall said in the interview that initially, he thought Ver was serious about engaging him and others to lobby his cause, and that he traveled to Washington on multiple occasions to lay the groundwork.
Schoen, Ver’s attorney, told Bloomberg he believed the people behind the pardon proposal “were falsely claiming to have high-level contacts.”
“It is absolutely clear to me that no one in the White House had any part in this process,” Schoen said.
Argall, in the interview with Bloomberg, said that he saw himself as a connector. “This wasn’t about me trying to make dough,” he said. “If I made this happen, since my guys came through, hook me up after.”
He said the money could have been used to fund a crypto project. Or maybe he’d just get “good karma” for helping Ver.
Pierce didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.
In February, Argall introduced Ver to Washington lawyer Jesse Binnall, who had represented Trump in litigation tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots, and touted him as possibly being able to help, according to communications reviewed by Bloomberg.
Binnall outlined his track record advocating conservative causes before mapping out a rough path to securing a presidential pardon. He didn’t speak or agree when Argall reiterated the $30 million fee structure to Ver, according to the communications.
“Binnall’s sole involvement in the Ver matter was limited to a single phone call,” a spokesperson for the Binnall Law Group said. “He had no role whatsoever in setting, negotiating or pursuing any fee of any amount, nor did he take on the client or have any further involvement in the matter.”
By March, the ambitious plot appears to have fizzled out, with an email reviewed by Bloomberg showing Ver ignored follow-up texts and calls from Argall.
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