A Morning Interrupted

At 5:00 AM on April 24, 2024, FBI tactical agents raided Keonne Rodriguez’s home. Over 50 agents swarmed his quiet town, arresting him and co-founder Bill Lode. The arrest was part of the Biden administration’s crackdown on crypto privacy tools. Rodriguez, co-founder of Samourai Wallet, now writes from FPC Morgantown, a federal prison camp. His days are regimented by loudspeaker commands and strict rules. He is inmate #11404-511.

The War on Crypto

Rodriguez describes the events as a “massacre” rather than a fair fight. He claims the Biden administration targeted small crypto developers with unlimited government resources. The charges stem from the software his company created—a non-custodial, open-source privacy tool. He says the government’s strategy worked: “Barely anyone cared.” Legal defense funds dried up quickly. The crypto industry did not rally. Some even cheered the takedown.

Political Shifts and Unfinished Business

The Trump administration inherited this “war.” Trump promised to free Ross Ulbricht and end the crackdown. Ross was freed. The SEC was reined in. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memo arguing that software developers should not be prosecuted for user actions. But Rodriguez says line prosecutors ignored those orders. They changed charges or tweaked language to keep pursuing cases. He calls this the “administrative state”—a deep state immune to presidential orders.

Left Behind

Rodriguez says the war is only half won. The SEC has backed off. No new cases have been filed under novel theories. But he, Bill Lode, and Roman Storm remain in legal limbo. He compares it to a battlefield where men are left behind. “The war will not be won until Bill and myself are extricated from behind enemy lines,” he writes. Until then, “none of us are free.”

Where to Write

Keonne Rodriguez accepts letters at FPC Morgantown, P.O. Box 1000, Morgantown, WV 26507. Letters must be no longer than three pages and include a full return address. No packages or items are allowed. Books and magazines must come directly from publishers or retailers like Amazon.