William “Bill” Hill, aged 67 and a co-founder of the Bitcoin mixer Samourai Wallet, has received a sentence of four years in prison due to his involvement in facilitating unlicensed money transmission. This decision was made on Wednesday by District Judge Denise Cote at the Southern District of New York (SDNY). Prosecutors indicated that the tools created by Hill were linked to the laundering of at least $237 million in illicit funds.
Judge Cote determined that Hill”s age and recent autism diagnosis were significant mitigating factors in her sentencing decision. She noted that, had these considerations not been present, she would have imposed a longer sentence of 60 months. “I recognize that serving time will be especially challenging for the defendant due to his age and condition,” she remarked.
Hill”s attorney, Roger Burlingame from Dechert LLP, emphasized during the hearing that Hill”s autism played a crucial role in his behavior and perceptions. He described Bitcoin as “catnip” to Hill, who was drawn to the ideology of blockchain technology and its promise of privacy and community. According to Burlingame, Hill genuinely believed that his work with Samourai Wallet was lawful, as there was no requirement for non-custodial wallets to register as money transmitting businesses according to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
During the proceedings, Judge Cote voiced concerns about whether Hill understood the moral implications of his actions, stating, “There is an argument that no law was violated, but that is simply not accurate.” She firmly rejected the notion that Hill”s autism precluded him from understanding right from wrong.
When Hill had the opportunity to speak, he appeared emotional and expressed regret over the impact his actions had on his family, particularly his wife, Sabrina. “I deceived myself into thinking my work was about freedom; in reality, I was just justifying my own pride,” Hill admitted, taking full accountability for his choices.
Along with the four-year prison sentence, Judge Cote also imposed a three-year supervised release, which Hill can serve from Lisbon, where he resides with his wife. Additionally, he faces a $250,000 fine. The judge indicated that he might receive credit for time served in Portugal, potentially reducing his remaining sentence by 11 weeks. Hill has until January 2, 2026, to self-surrender to begin serving his time.
