Prosecution In Samourai Wallet Case Affirms It Did Not Violate The Brady Rule

The recent developments in the Samourai Wallet case have sparked controversy and debate over the handling of key information by the prosecutors. In a letter to the Southern District of New York (SDNY) filed today, the prosecutors defended their actions and stated that they did not withhold exculpatory evidence from the defense.

The defense had raised concerns about late disclosure of information obtained from FinCEN almost two years ago, which suggested that Samourai Wallet was not acting as a money transmitting business due to the noncustodial nature of the product. This information came to light thanks to a Brady motion submitted by the defense, which requires exculpatory evidence to be provided to the defense as part of due process.

Despite calls for a dismissal of the case based on this new information, the prosecutors made it clear that they have no intention of dropping the charges. They emphasized the second charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering, alleging that Samourai Wallet had laundered over $100 million of crime proceeds from various illegal sources.

The prosecutors downplayed the significance of the information shared by FinCEN employees, stating that much of the charged conduct does not rely on FinCEN regulations. They also emphasized that the opinions expressed by the FinCEN employees were individual and informal, and not necessarily reflective of FinCEN’s official stance.

In their letter, the prosecutors asserted that they had not violated any legal norms by not disclosing certain details of their communications with FinCEN earlier in the pre-trial process. They cited a Second Circuit ruling that as long as the defense has access to Brady evidence in time for its effective use, due process has not been deprived.

As the case moves forward, it remains to be seen how Judge Berman will respond to the prosecution’s letter. The defense’s opening motion has been delayed by two weeks, with the trial scheduled to begin on November 3, 2025. In the meantime, supporters of the Samourai developers can donate to their defense fund through the P2P Rights Fund.

Overall, the case continues to unfold with legal arguments and procedural disputes shaping the outcome of this high-profile trial.