Samourai Wallet Developer's First Trial, Department of Justice Will Provide Ample Evidence

The court for the Southern District of New York held the first hearing of the Department of Justice (DoJ) against Samourai Wallet developer Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill on May 28 local time. Rodriguez and Hill were charged with money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transfer business. Although Hill is still in Portugal and has not yet responded to an extradition request, Rodriguez and his attorney Michael Krouse attended the hearing.
Prosecutors said they were ready to present a large amount of evidence and were waiting for Rodriguez to hand over the 2TB hard drive he was holding. Rodriguez's lawyers plan to cite a letter from Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ron Wyden to the attorney general asking for the charges against his client to be dropped. The letter said unmanaged encryption software should not be considered a money transfer service.
The judge announced that Rodriguez would remain in home confinement, with the next hearing scheduled for September 4, 2024. Fundraising for the Samourai developer's legal defense fund is underway.