Samourai Wallet Lawyers Accuse Prosecution of Evidence Suppression in Case

Lawyers for Samourai Wallet have accused prosecutors of suppressing evidence in the case against its co-founders, Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill. They filed a motion requesting a hearing to dismiss the case due to an alleged Brady violation.

In August 2023, FinCEN informed prosecutors that Samourai Wallet did not qualify as a money transmitting business and needed no license.
Despite this, prosecutors charged Rodriguez and Hill with conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating without a license.
The defense was only made aware of FinCEN's position in April 2025 when responding to a Brady request.
Brady v. Maryland mandates timely disclosure of exculpatory evidence by the government, and violations can lead to case dismissal.
The defense argues that the lack of disclosure has prejudiced the defendants’ case, affecting bail decisions and their ability to mount a defense.
In a previous motion, lawyers referenced the “Blanche Memo,” which instructed DOJ staff to halt prosecutions related to crypto regulatory violations.
If charges are not dropped, the defense plans to file a motion to dismiss on multiple grounds, including that the defendants were not money transmitters.
A hearing is scheduled for July 22, 2025.