Samourai Wallet’s Co-Founder Appeals for Bitcoin Donations From Federal Prison
Samourai Wallet co-founder Keonne Rodriguez printed a public enchantment from FPC Morgantown federal jail, asking Bitcoin (BTC) holders to donate to a pockets handle tied to his household’s mounting authorized debt.
Rodriguez wrote on X (Twitter) that he and his spouse Lauren owe greater than $2 million in authorized charges. They additionally face a $250,000 court-imposed tremendous after his responsible plea to working an unlicensed money-transmitting enterprise.
Pardon Prospects Have Faded
In his May 6 put up, Rodriguez stated he’s 5 months right into a 60-month sentence on the West Virginia camp. He surrendered to federal custody in December 2025.
He had beforehand been released on a $1 million bond earlier than sentencing.
Hope for a presidential pardon stirred briefly throughout the Bitcoin 2026 convention however has since dimmed. President Trump had stated in late 2025 he would consider a pardon.
Rodriguez now calls these prospects “very low.”
“I’m merely a federal prisoner with out cash, energy, or affect, and I’ll serve my full sentence,” he lamented.
Follow us on X to get the newest information because it occurs
$2 Million in Debt and a Direct Bitcoin Address
The enchantment directs donations to the handle bc1qtjjcvn98wh7dfd55m8kxhjcfexanttwt8gtan8, with personal options obtainable via his spouse’s X (Twitter) account.
Rodriguez stated attorneys and the U.S. Department of Justice are urgent for fee.
Federal prosecutors had alleged Samourai processed over $237 million in criminal proceeds, in response to the unique arrest announcement.
“A seizure warrant for Samourai’s cell utility was served on the Google Play Store. As a outcome, the applying will now not be obtainable to be downloaded from the Google Play Store within the United States,” the officers wrote of their assertion.
The pockets dealt with greater than $2 billion throughout over 100,000 customers since 2015. Rodriguez and co-founder William Lonergan Hill pleaded responsible in 2025 to conspiracy to function an unlicensed money-transmitting enterprise. Hill acquired a four-year sentence.
The two additionally forfeited roughly $6.37 million in earned charges as half of a bigger cash judgment.
The case continues to anchor debate over whether or not builders of non-custodial privacy software can face felony legal responsibility for person exercise.
The unique code nonetheless circulates via the Ashigaru fork.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to look at leaders and journalists present skilled insights
The put up Samourai Wallet’s Co-Founder Appeals for Bitcoin Donations From Federal Prison appeared first on BeInCrypto.
