Samourai Wallet Developer Begins 5-Year Prison Sentence

Samourai Wallet developer Keonne Rodriguez surrendered to the Federal Prison Camp in Morgantown, West Virginia, on December 19, 2024, to begin serving a 60-month sentence. In a personal letter, he described the intake process, housing assignment, and the emotional impact of voluntary surrender.

Rodriguez detailed the surreal experience of driving himself to the facility with his wife, describing the conversation about the weather as a way to mask the reality of his incarceration. He noted that surrendering voluntarily allowed him to avoid diesel therapy, a transport process involving multiple prison stops across the United States. Upon arrival at FPC Morgantown, he underwent standard intake procedures including a strip search, medical clearance, and psychological screening.

He was assigned to the Bates Unit, specifically the B Wing, which houses newer inmates. Rodriguez highlighted logistical challenges, including a delay in accessing his funds due to the Friday surrender before a holiday, which prevented him from making phone calls or purchasing items for over a week. He was assisted by inmate orderly Shane, who provided winter clothing and bedding. Rodriguez concluded his letter with a call to action for supporters to petition for his and William Hill's release.

Keonne Rodriguez surrendered to the Federal Prison Camp in Morgantown, West Virginia, on December 19, 2024, to begin serving a 60-month sentence. He described the surrender process as a fundamentally confusing and unnatural experience that tugs against primal human instincts.

Rodriguez chose to surrender voluntarily rather than face diesel therapy. This process involves the Bureau of Prisons transporting inmates across the United States by bus or plane, stopping at multiple facilities before arriving at the final destination. During this transport, inmates cannot take classes to earn sentence reduction credits.

The drive to the prison was an emotional experience. Rodriguez drove himself with his wife as a passenger. They maintained a banal conversation about the weather—which included snow, rain, and hail—to mask the reality of the situation. He described the act of saying goodbye to family and giving up liberty as perverse.

At approximately 1:00 PM, Rodriguez arrived at the facility. He parked in the visitors' lot and shared a final embrace with his wife before walking through freezing wind and rain to the entrance. The initial interaction with staff was professional. An officer offered him shelter from the cold in the gatehouse, conducted a breathalyzer test, and engaged in casual conversation. A second officer conducted a search and counted his cash.

The intake process at FPC Morgantown was described as quick and efficient. Rodriguez noted that the Corrections Officers and support staff were professional, with some being cordial and others friendly. However, he encountered immediate logistical issues regarding his personal funds.

Upon arrival, an officer informed Rodriguez that it would take until after Christmas for his cash to appear on his books. This delay meant he could not make phone calls or purchase items from the commissary for more than a week. Rodriguez identified bringing cash as a big mistake.

He was instructed to strip naked for a search. His personal clothing—grey sweatpants and a sweatshirt—was discarded into a plastic bag. Rodriguez described the physical inspection in blunt terms: "After inspecting my cock, balls, and asshole (sorry, but it is what happened)."

Following the search, Rodriguez was issued prison attire:

• Oversized khaki pants
• Brown shirt with bleach stains
• Cheap blue slip-on shoes

He noted that this uniform immediately marked him as a newbie to other inmates. He then proceeded through a series of clearances:

1. Psychology: He met with a psychologist who assessed his mental health and checked for suicidal ideation. Rodriguez noted the psychologist's intimidating appearance but found him respectful.
2. Medical: He met with a Physician's Assistant for medical clearance. This included a TB test and DNA collection via an inner cheek swab.

After completing the intake carousel, Keonne Rodriguez was introduced to Shane, an inmate orderly responsible for helping new arrivals. Rodriguez described Shane as having a friendly Irish face and rosy cheeks, noting he was the perfect person for the role.

Shane provided Rodriguez with essential items:

• A jacket, hat, and gloves
• A pillow and bed roll
• Two spare sets of intake uniforms
• Sheets, towels, and washcloths
• Boxers and socks
• Toilet paper and basic toiletries

Rodriguez was assigned to the Bates Unit, which he considered good fortune compared to the Alexander Unit, which reportedly houses "rowdy reprobates" and lacks air conditioning. He was placed in the B Wing of the Bates Unit, which houses newcomers and younger inmates. The A Wing is reserved for older, more experienced inmates and is described as quieter.

Shane provided a tour of the campus, pointing out various buildings. Rodriguez struggled to retain all the information while carrying his issued supplies. He noted that because he surrendered on a Friday, he would not receive a proper laundry uniform until Monday, forcing him to stand out among the general population. He attributed these timing complications to the judge who ordered his surrender date.

Keonne Rodriguez has begun serving his 5-year sentence at the Federal Prison Camp in Morgantown. His account details the procedural and emotional challenges of entering federal custody, from the initial surrender to the housing assignment process. Despite the professional conduct of the staff, Rodriguez emphasized the psychological toll of the experience and the logistical hurdles created by the timing of his surrender.

Currently, Rodriguez and William Hill remain incarcerated. In his letter, Rodriguez included a call to action for readers to sign a petition advocating for their release, emphasizing that every signature counts.