One cryptocurrency The founders and CEO of the mixing service were arrested and charged with money laundering and unlicensed money transfer. Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill are accused of operating Samourai Wallet, an unlicensed money transfer business that allegedly processed more than $2 billion in illegal transactions and laundered more than $100 million in proceeds of crime.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:
“Rodriguez and Hill are responsible for developing, marketing and operating Samourai, a cryptocurrency mixing service that processed more than $2 billion in illicit transactions and served as a haven for criminals to engage in large-scale money laundering activities.
“These individuals knowingly facilitated the laundering of over $100 million in proceeds of crime from Silk Road, Hydra Market, and a number of other hacking and fraud campaigns.”
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso added:
“A $2 billion transaction with an unlicensed money transmitter means $2 billion is flowing from whomever to where without any oversight. Samourai Wallet allegedly laundered more than $100 million in criminal proceeds because the company ignored regulations.”
FBI Deputy Director in Charge James Smith emphasized the role of technology in facilitating such illegal activities. Smith said:
“Threat actors use technology to evade detection by security forces and create environments conducive to criminal activities. “Rodriguez and Hill allegedly operated a mobile cryptocurrency mixing platform for approximately 10 years that provided other criminals with a virtual haven for the secret exchange of illicit funds, the facilitation of more than $2 billion in illicit transactions, and the dark web money laundering of $100 million.”
Authorities not only arrested the founders and CEO, but also seized the domain names, effectively shutting down Samourai Wallet.
*This is not investment advice.
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