U.S. prosecutors seek 5 years in prison for Samourai Wallet founder

According to The Block, U.S. prosecutors are seeking to sentence Samourai Wallet founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill to 60 months in prison, accusing them of operating an unlicensed money transmission business.

Prosecutors allege that the cryptocurrency mixing service operated by Rodriguez and Hill helped launder at least $237 million in criminal proceeds over nearly a decade. According to the indictment, from 2015 to April 2024, the illegal proceeds laundered through Samourai were linked to criminal activities such as drug trafficking, dark web markets, hacking, fraud, and murder-for-hire schemes. In June of this year, a grand jury issued a superseding indictment against the two, charging them with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmission business. On July 30, both pleaded guilty to the latter charge. Rodriguez is scheduled for sentencing on November 6, and Hill's sentencing is set for November 7.