The crypto advocacy nonprofit Coin Center is considering whether to file an amicus brief in support of the co-founders of crypto mixer Samourai Wallet.
Last week, authorities arrested Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, co-founders of Samourai Wallet, for allegedly operating an unlicensed money transmission company that conducted more than $2 billion in illegal transactions.
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) also alleges that Samourai laundered more than $100 million in criminal proceeds.
Jerry Brito, Executive Director of Coin Center say the indictment “contains some questionable charges.”
When asked on the social media platform X of Coin Center planned to file an amicus brief in support of the mixer, Brito notes that they are considering it.
“The indictment was unsealed on Friday, so we need some time to consider everything. Who knows if this will even end up in court, etc. But yes, we have filed the suit against Tornado Cash and maybe we will do that here too.”
An amicus brief is a legal document filed with the court by a party not involved in a case. The letter is written by ‘friends of the court’ and is intended to provide additional information or arguments that may assist the court in making its decision.
Tornado Cash is an Ethereum (ETH) based coin mixing system that allows users to hide their digital assets. The US approved the controversial 2022 project for national security purposes.
One of its founders, Roman Storm, was arrested last year and charged with laundering $1 billion in criminal proceeds, including hundreds of millions of dollars for the Lazarus Group, the sanctioned North Korean cybercrime organization.
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