U.S. Government Grants Bail to Samourai Wallet Co-Founder William Lonergan Hill

• The U.S. government grants bail to Samourai Wallet co-founder William Lonergan Hill, terms pending.
• Hill and co-founder Keonne Rodriguez faced charges of money laundering and illegal transactions.
• Hill’s defense team proposes a $2 million bond with further negotiations ongoing.

The U.S. government has decided to grant bail to William Lonergan Hill, also known as TDev, the co-founder of Samourai Wallet. 

Hill, who was arrested in April alongside Keonne Rodriguez, faces charges of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business and money laundering. According to recent court filings, Hill’s initial court appearance is set for July 9 or 10 at the U.S. District Court.

Despite agreeing on Hill’s release, the specific terms of the bail have yet to be finalized. Hill, one of the two founders of Samourai Wallet, has been a key figure in the development of the cryptocurrency wallet, which reportedly handled over $2 billion in unlawful transactions. 

Furthermore, the wallet allegedly executed more than $100 million in criminal proceeds, including transactions linked to the notorious Silk Road Hydra Market.

Hill’s defense team revealed in a letter dated July 3 that the U.S. government had agreed to grant their client bail. However, the parties have not yet agreed on where Hill will spend his time following his release. The defense has argued that Hill should be allowed to remain in Portugal with his family, while prosecutors prefer that he stay in Brooklyn, New York. 

Hill’s co-accused, Rodriguez, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He was released on a $1 million bond pending the hearing and determination of the case. Hill’s family has offered a substantial bail package for his release, including a $2 million bond backed by their New York family home and $200,000 in cash. 

Additionally, the defense team proposed increasing the bail package to $3 million, including Hill’s family home in Europe. If Hill is allowed to return to Portugal, the total bail package could increase to $4.4 million.

The defense team has pointed out various arguments against the prosecution’s case. They suggested that Google could be considered a co-conspirator, given that the Samourai Wallet was available on the Google App Store from May 2015 until the founders’ arrest in April 2024.