Keonne Rodriguez, a 37-year-old developer of the Samourai Wallet, has been sentenced to five years in prison. Rodriguez was also fined $250,000 and is expected to forfeit $237 million related to illegal activities as part of the plea deal.
Notably, in July 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for operating an unlicensed money transmission business through the Samourai Wallet. However, the prosecutor dropped the money laundering charges as part of the plea deal.
Furthermore, the Samourai Wallet allowed users to obfuscate Bitcoin transactions by using a similar scheme to Tornado Cash. The judge also imposed a three-year supervised release on the Samourai Wallet co-founder after he served his sentence.
What’s next for the co-founder of Samourai Wallet after the Clarity Act
Rodriguez’s case became complicated after he pleaded guilty earlier this year. With the judgment handed down by the judge, a possible legal provision may be invalid in a possible appeal case.
Notably, the Clarity Act, which aims to provide clarity to the broader crypto market, includes a clause guiding the development of open source web3. If the Clarity Act is passed with its current provisions, Web3 developers would not only be liable for publishing open source code, running blockchain nodes, and providing self-management software.
However, the ongoing US government shutdown has further pushed back the timelines for the Clarity Act. As such, Rodriguez may not be eligible for legal relief, especially since his 2015 indictment violated existing laws.
Nevertheless, Rodriguez could be called upon to push for a sentence reduction, which is independent of statutory relief. Moreover, lawyers suggested a prison sentence of 1 year and 1 day.
Trust CoinPedia:
CoinPedia has been providing accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict editorial guidelines based on EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Each article is fact-checked from reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency and reliability. Our review policy ensures unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms or tools. We strive to provide timely updates on everything crypto and blockchain, from startups to industry majors.
Investment disclaimer:
All opinions and insights shared represent the author’s own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making any investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication accepts responsibility for your financial choices.
Sponsored and Ads:
Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Ads are clearly marked and our editorial content remains completely independent from our advertising partners.