Samourai Wallet co-founder William Lonergan Hill sentenced to four years in crypto mixing service case

Samourai Pockets co-founder William Lonergan Hill was sentenced to 4 years in jail for his position in working a crypto-mixing service that prosecutors say helped criminals “wash hundreds of thousands in soiled cash,” in line with an investigation. statement from the US Legal professional’s Workplace.

Hill was sentenced Wednesday within the U.S. District Court docket for the Southern District of New York, about two weeks after his former colleague Keonne Rodriguez, who convicted to the utmost penalty of 5 years by the identical court docket. Rodriguez was CEO of Samourai and Hill was Chief Expertise Officer.

The pair pleaded responsible the next July denying the accusations final yr.

“The sentences the defendants have obtained ship a transparent message that laundering recognized prison proceeds – whatever the expertise used and whether or not the proceeds are within the type of fiat or cryptocurrency – could have critical penalties,” United States Legal professional Nicolas Roos mentioned within the assertion.

Rodriguez, 37, and Hill, 67, have been additionally every sentenced to 3 years of supervised launch and ordered to pay a $250,000 tremendous every. Each have paid greater than $6.3 million in forfeitures, prosecutors mentioned Wednesday.

In August, prosecutors mentioned Samourai was an app”designed and operated as a prison proceeds switch service” and that Hill and Rodriguez knew it was getting used to cover the cash.

Crypto mixing providers have come into the highlight for prosecutors lately. Twister Money developer Roman Storm was charged in 2023 with cash laundering, conspiracy to function an unlicensed cash transmission enterprise and sanctions violations. In August, a jury couldn’t attain a verdict on cash laundering and the sanctions, however discovered Storm responsible on the prices of sending cash.

In August, Matthew J Galeotti, Performing Assistant Legal professional Normal of the Justice Division’s Prison Division, mentioned: mentioned that ‘writing code’ just isn’t a criminal offense. Within the meantime, crypto advocates have raised cash to donate to authorized funds for Storm, they usually have insist lawmakers to guard software program builders as they contemplate how the digital asset business is regulated.

Disclaimer: The Block is an impartial media outlet offering information, analysis and information. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures has been a majority investor in The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies within the crypto house. Crypto change Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to function independently to ship goal, impactful and well timed details about the crypto business. Right here you will discover our present monetary disclosures.

© 2025 Het Blok. All rights reserved. This text is for informational functions solely. It isn’t supplied or supposed for use as authorized, tax, funding, monetary or different recommendation.