Bitcoin Privacy Wallet Developers Face Legal Charges in the U.S.

According to PANews, developers of the Bitcoin privacy wallet Samourai Wallet, Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, are facing charges of money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmission business. Despite the defense's argument that the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) had indicated the wallet might not meet the definition of a money transmitter under the Bank Secrecy Act, the prosecution has refused to drop the charges. They also denied any "Brady violation," which refers to the non-disclosure of evidence favorable to the defendant. The prosecution maintains that FinCEN's opinion is unrelated to the more serious money laundering charges. The case is expected to proceed as planned, with a trial anticipated within the next seven months.