US EditionCrypto Mixer News: Samourai Wallet Dev Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison
Keonne Rodriguez pleaded guilty to unlicensed money transmitting and paid $6.3 million forfeiture before sentencing to five years, plus probation and a $250,000 fine.
- On November 6, 2025, District Judge Denise Cote sentenced Keonne Rodriguez, 37-year-old Samourai Wallet developer, to five years in prison in the Southern District of New York after his July guilty plea.
- Court filings show that Samourai Wallet's features Ricochet and Whirlpool and its social media marketing helped criminals launder proceeds from drug trafficking and darknet marketplaces, prosecutors said.
- Court documents and prosecutors noted a six-page escape plan at Keonne Rodriguez's home and District Judge Denise Cote said his letter left her with a 'troubling reaction' while prosecutors argued it ignored victims and encouraged criminals to use the wallet.
- As part of the ruling, District Judge Denise Cote imposed a $250,000 fine, three years supervised release, ordered forfeiture, 50% UNICOR earnings and 25% monthly wages garnished; prosecutors noted Rodriguez paid $6.3 million.
- The ruling follows recent prosecutions such as Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm's conviction earlier this year, while FinCEN told prosecutors Samourai likely did not qualify as an MSB due to its non-custodial design, and William Lonergan Hill's sentencing is scheduled for November 19.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Crypto Mixer Founder Sentenced: Regulatory Crackdown Intensifies
The sentencing of Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of the cryptocurrency mixer Samourai Wallet, to five years in prison marks a significant moment in the ongoing regulatory crackdown on crypto-related money laundering. This case underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for facilitating illicit financial activities, even as the broader crypto industry faces a… Source
Samourai Wallet Co-Founder Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison For Money Laundering
Keonne Rodriguez, one of the co-founders of the cryptocurrency mixer Samourai Wallet, was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday for his role in operating a service that allegedly laundered “hundreds of millions of dollars” derived from illegal dark web activities and fraudulent schemes. US District Judge Denise Cote imposed the maximum sentence for the charge of conspiring to run an unlicensed money-transmitting business during a hearin…
The trial of Keonne Rodriguez, the co-founder of Samurai Wallet, ended with a sentence of 5 years in prison. He was accused of having favoured criminal activities with his cryptocurrency blender. The article "A gift for criminals" – The founder of Samurai Wallet sentenced to 5 years in prison appeared first on Cryptoast.
Samourai Wallet Co-Founder Sentenced to Five Years, Raising Questions Over Crypto Privacy Laws
The tension between privacy and accountability in crypto has never been sharper. This week, that conflict came to a head when Keonne Rodriguez, one of the creators of the privacy-focused Samourai Wallet, was sentenced to five years in prison — the harshest penalty sought by prosecutors.
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