The Prosecution of Samourai Wallet Developers: Expanding the Reach of Crypto Enforcement | Ballard Spahr LLP
Barthelemy de Mazenod, Unsplash
The prosecution of the developers behind Samourai Wallet illustrates how U.S. authorities are broadening their approach to privacy‑focused cryptocurrency tools. In April 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced charges against Keonne Rodriguez, Samourai’s chief executive, and William Lonergan Hill, its chief technology officer. The indictment alleged that Samourai facilitated more than $2 billion in Bitcoin transactions, including $237 million in criminal proceeds, with over $100 million tied to darknet markets. By late 2025, both pleaded guilty: Rodriguez was sentenced to five years, Hill four, on conspiracy counts related to money transmission and money…
