Lawyers for Samourai Wallet and U.S. prosecutors have requested more time for their pretrial motions following a recent shift in the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding digital asset cases, as noted in a court filing dated April 28.
Samourai Wallet Founders Seek Case Dismissal
A letter sent on Monday to U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman in the Southern District of New York reveals that legal counsel for Samourai Wallet’s founders, Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, are requesting an additional 16 days after previously seeking to have the case dismissed earlier in the month.
“The Defendants feel that extending the pretrial motions timeline is necessary to prevent incurring substantial costs in preparing their motions while the Government clarifies its stance in response to their dismissal request,” the lawyers representing the crypto executives explained.
Rodriguez and Hill initially filed their request to dismiss the charges on April 10, shortly after DOJ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that the agency would stop pursuing regulatory-focused cases related to digital assets.
According to the memo, “The Justice Department will cease legal actions that impose regulatory frameworks on digital assets while actual regulators in President Trump’s administration handle these matters outside of the criminal justice system.”
Changes in U.S. Crypto Policy
The delay in proceedings might bode well for Samourai Wallet, considering that Hill and Rodriguez were arrested and charged with money laundering conspiracy and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business in April 2024.
Prosecutors claim the two facilitated over $2 billion in illegal transactions, including $100 million related to money laundering linked to dark web activities.
If convicted, both Hill and Rodriguez could face maximum sentences of 25 years, though the DOJ’s recent change in policy regarding crypto may impact their outcomes.
The article Samourai Wallet Dismissal Bid Gains Steam After DOJ Policy Pivot, 16-Day Delay originally appeared on Cryptonews.
