Samourai Wallet says feds hid advice that crypto mixer was in the clear
Samourai Wallet's lawyers allege that federal prosecutors concealed guidance from FinCEN, stating that the firm's operations did not require a license as a money services business. In a court filing, they argued that six months before the charges were filed against co-founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill, prosecutors received a confirmation from the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network indicating that Samourai Wallet did not take custody of cryptocurrency, suggesting it wasn’t acting as a money services business. They assert that this information was withheld for over a year, despite requirements to disclose it shortly after the charges were unsealed. The prosecution claims Samourai facilitated over $2 billion in illegal transactions and money laundering, leading to the criminal charges in February 2024. Both co-founders have pleaded not guilty, and their legal team plans to seek a dismissal of charges based on the newly revealed guidance that they acted lawfully. An earlier memo from the Justice Department indicated a shift in prosecution policy against crypto mixers amid regulatory changes.
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