Samourai Wallet dey face 5-year jail term for $237M laundering

U.S. prosecutors for Southern District New York don request max five-year jail term under Bank Secrecy Act for Samourai Wallet co-founders Keonn Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill. The Bitcoin privacy app dem dey accuse say dem run unlicensed money-transmitting service wey process at least $237 million illegal money from drug trafficking, dark web markets, cyberattacks, fraud, and child exploitation. Prosecutors talk say Whirlpool and Ricochet features na to hide criminal money and say developers market the tool as “laundry service.” Dem claim say the founders collect about 246.3 BTC as fees and keep user data wey fit make tracing possible. The two dem plead guilty to unlicensed transmission after dem drop money laundering charges for plea deal. Defense lawyers talk say Samourai Wallet na non-custodial privacy tool wey dem build with legal advice, mention cooperation, time dem don spend for jail, and academic support inside cypherpunk tradition. Probation office recommend 42 months, sentencing hearing dey set for November 6–7, 2025. The case show how crypto privacy services dey face more regulatory scrutiny and highlight the compliance risks for Bitcoin traders.