Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of Samourai Wallet, has been in federal prison for two years. He wrote a letter from FPC Morgantown describing his experience.
On April 24, 2024, FBI agents raided his home. Over 50 tactical agents arrested him at 5:00 AM. His wife was handcuffed briefly. His cat escaped through an open door. Now, he wakes and sleeps on command. He wears a prison uniform. His identity is reduced to inmate number 11404-511.
The Beginning of a Federal Case
The charges stem from software development. Rodriguez and co-founder Bill Hill wrote code for Bitcoin privacy. The government alleged their tool facilitated money laundering. No evidence of direct involvement has been presented, I think. The case is seen by some as a test of how far regulators can stretch existing laws.
Rodriguez argues the prosecution was politically motivated. He points to then-President Joe Biden’s administration and Senator Elizabeth Warren’s anti-crypto stance. He describes himself and Hill as small developers without influence. They struggled to raise funds for legal defense. The community, he says, largely ignored their plight.
A Shifting Political Landscape
Donald Trump won the 2024 election partly on promises to free Ross Ulbricht and end the war on crypto. Ulbricht was released early in Trump’s term. The SEC was reined in. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memo stating software developers should not be prosecuted for end users’ actions.
But Rodriguez says the bureaucrats ignored those orders. He calls it the administrative state resisting change. Line prosecutors continued pursuing similar cases, perhaps just changing charges slightly. The war is half won, he argues.
Left Behind on the Battlefield
Rodriguez believes no man should be left behind. He mentions Roman Storm, another developer facing charges. Until all crypto prisoners are free, the war is not over. He urges the community to write letters to him in prison. Only three-page letters are allowed. No packages. Books must come from publishers.
This is a direct plea for support. Rodriguez wants the public to remember that developers are still incarcerated. The outcome of these cases could set precedents for how code is treated under U.S. law. For now, he remains a prisoner, waiting for a resolution that may take years.
