Overview
- U.S. District Judge Denise Cote imposed a 60-month term, citing the need for deterrence after rejecting a defense request for a year-and-a-day.
- Rodriguez pleaded guilty to conspiring to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business under a July deal that dropped a money-laundering conspiracy charge.
- Prosecutors said Samourai routed funds linked to darknet markets, drug trafficking, cyber intrusions, fraud, and a child-exploitation site, and argued Rodriguez encouraged criminal use.
- The sentence includes a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release, and Rodriguez has already paid a $6.3 million forfeiture.
- Co-developer William Lonergan Hill is now set for sentencing on Nov. 19 after a postponement; in a related case, Roman Storm was convicted on an unlicensed-transmitting count.