Lawyers representing the co-founders of Samourai Wallet are accusing federal prosecutors of deliberately concealing key guidance from the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) that could undermine the criminal case against their clients.
In a letter submitted to the Manhattan federal court, attorneys for Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill, CEO and CTO of the crypto mixing platform, respectively, allege that the Department of Justice withheld exculpatory information that surfaced months before the duo was charged with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and engaging in money laundering.
According to the letter, FinCEN informed prosecutors in late 2023 that Samourai Wallet did not fall under the “Money Services Business” (MSB) category, which would have required the firm to register for a license.
Rodriguez and Hill were arrested in April 2024 following unsealed charges brought against them in February. The U.S. government alleges that its crypto-mixing service processed over $2 billion in unlawful transactions, including more than $100 million tied to online black markets and fraudulent schemes. Both executives have pleaded not guilty. The defence claims that prosecutors should have disclosed their FinCEN conversations no later than May 8, 2024 — two weeks after the charges were unsealed — but only revealed the details on April 1, 2025. This information suggested the service was not a money services business (MSB). The defence is seeking a court hearing on the late disclosure and plans to renew their motion to dismiss the charges, claiming the executives believed they were operating legally.
The push for dismissal comes amid broader shifts in the Justice Department’s stance on crypto enforcement. In April, the DOJ and Samourai requested more time to evaluate the case after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memo stating the department would no longer pursue mixers for unintentional violations of financial regulations.
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