Keonne Rodriguez, the Samourai Wallet co founder, described his first days in a US federal prison in a letter written during his first week in custody.
The account, shared by The Rage and reported by Cryptonews, described his arrival at a federal prison camp and the intake steps that followed as he began a five year sentence.
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Rodriguez wrote that he surrendered and then moved through standard processing.
He described searches, medical checks, and an assignment to housing.
He wrote the letter on Christmas Eve and dated it Wednesday, saying it marked his seventh day at the facility.
The Samourai Wallet case has also moved beyond one person’s story.
The imprisonment of Keonne Rodriguez has become part of a wider fight about open source developer liability, especially for teams that build a Bitcoin privacy wallet or related privacy tools.
Keonne Rodriguez Letter Describes Federal Prison Camp Intake Steps
Keonne Rodriguez wrote that he surrendered to a federal prison camp and entered an intake process that included searches and medical checks.
He said staff then assigned him to housing, which set the structure for daily life.
He described the first day as controlled and routine. He also wrote that the emotional impact landed fast because the surrender happened close to the holiday.
Rodriguez tied the timing to his family. He wrote that entering custody days before Christmas changed how his household handled the holiday.
Keonne Rodriguez Calls Prison “Manageable” as First Visit Set for Christmas Day
Rodriguez said conditions felt uncomfortable but possible to handle.
“While not at all comfortable, it is manageable,”
Keonne Rodriguez wrote.
“While I rather be at home with my wife and family, there are far worse places I could have ended up.”
He also wrote that other prisoners had been “respectful and downright friendly.” He included that detail while describing his early adjustment inside the federal prison camp.
Rodriguez wrote that he expected his wife as his first visitor on Christmas Day.
He also wrote that his family celebrated the holiday early because his incarceration forced a change in plans.
Samourai Wallet Case Links to Crypto Mixing Protocol Sentence and Clemency Petition
The report said Keonne Rodriguez was sentenced on Nov. 19 on charges tied to his role in operating a crypto mixing protocol.
The sentencing placed the Samourai Wallet co founder at the center of an argument over whether privacy focused tools create legal exposure for developers.
Supporters of Keonne Rodriguez have said the Samourai Wallet case sets a precedent that could reach beyond one project. Authorities have said the case focuses on facilitating illegal activity, not protected speech, according to the report.
A clemency petition for Keonne Rodriguez has gathered more than 12,000 signatures.
The petition described the case as “a chilling attack on free speech and innovation,” and it warned the outcome could deter open source work in the United States.
Keonne Rodriguez Case Draws Comparisons to Roman Storm and Tornado Cash Co Founder Prosecution
Privacy advocates have also compared the Samourai Wallet case to the prosecution of Roman Storm, the Tornado Cash co founder.
They argue both cases raise a similar issue about open source developer liability when third parties use software for illegal purposes.
Those advocates say the legal question stays unsettled. They focus on whether writing and maintaining code can trigger criminal punishment when others misuse the tool.
The comparison has kept Keonne Rodriguez in the spotlight. It has also kept attention on how prosecutors frame cases that involve privacy software and alleged facilitation.
Donald Trump Says He Will Review Keonne Rodriguez Samourai Wallet Case
The report said Donald Trump told reporters on Dec. 16 that he had heard about the Keonne Rodriguez case and would “take a look.” He also said he did not know the details, according to the report.
The comments came after Keonne Rodriguez had already started serving his five year sentence, the report said.
The statement added another layer to the clemency discussion tied to the clemency petition.
After that, Keonne Rodriguez posted on social media to appeal to Donald Trump for a pardon.
He described his prosecution as “lawfare” under the previous administration, and he said the case involved no direct victims, according to the report.
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Tatevik Avetisyan is an editor at Kriptoworld who covers emerging crypto trends, blockchain innovation, and altcoin developments. She is passionate about breaking down complex stories for a global audience and making digital finance more accessible.
📅 Published: December 26, 2025 • 🕓 Last updated: December 26, 2025
