PANews reported on May 7th that, according to Cointelegraph, Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of Samourai Wallet, has been sentenced to five years in prison and fined $250,000 for operating an illegal money transfer business. He also faces $2 million in legal fees and is appealing to the crypto community for donations. Rodriguez stated on the X platform that he is "financially bankrupt," and that his lawyers and the U.S. Department of Justice are pursuing him for funds; he has nowhere else to turn.

Rodriguez and co-founder William Lonergan Hill were charged in April 2024 with conspiracy to launder money and operating an unlicensed money transfer business. Initially pleading not guilty, they later pleaded guilty in July 2025 to one count of operating an illegal money transfer business. Rodriguez stated that he pleaded guilty because calculations showed he would face a longer prison sentence and millions in additional legal fees if convicted. Although US President Trump has indicated he will review the case and consider a pardon, Rodriguez believes he lacks the funds, power, or influence to warrant a pardon, unlike Changpeng Zhao and Ross Ulbricht, and is likely to serve his full sentence.