Samourai Wallet Developer Sentenced to 5 Years for Money Laundering

Keonne Rodriguez, a developer of the Samourai Wallet, was sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in a bitcoin mixing service linked to laundering $237 million in illicit funds. U.S. District Judge Denise Cote imposed the statutory maximum sentence after hearing arguments from prosecutors, who highlighted the severity of the laundering activities, which included proceeds from drug trafficking and various online crimes. Rodriguez, along with his fellow developer William Lonergan Hill, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, having initially faced harsher charges. The plea deal came during ongoing legal proceedings against another developer, Roman Storm, related to the Tornado Cash project, which faced similar allegations. Hill's sentencing is scheduled for the following day, as the implications of this case resonate in the broader regulatory landscape of cryptocurrency.

Source 🔗