Pleb UnderGround
Lauren Emily Joins The Pleb Underground For A Chat
- Keone Kamaaina, Samurai Wallet co-founder, was transferred from FCI Morgantown to a satellite camp at FCI McKean in Pennsylvania; the transit process took over a month and included time in maximum-security holding facilities despite his minimum-security status.
- Lauren Emily Rodriguez discussed the harsh realities of incarceration: cramped facilities with maintenance issues, lack of privacy for writing letters, and a distinctly different population compared to Morgantown.
- The case hinges on prosecutorial overreach: FinCEN stated Samurai did not require a money transmitter license because it took no custody, yet prosecutors hid this guidance and charged Keone and Bill Binney anyway.
- Multiple libertarian and policy organizations (Bitcoin Policy Institute, Coin Center, Lynn Ulbricht) are advocating for pardons and supporting legislative efforts like the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA) to protect developers.
- A stark double standard exists: banks knowingly violating anti-money laundering rules face civil penalties and fines paid by institutions, not individuals; developers face criminal prosecution and decades of imprisonment.
- The Libertarian Party, particularly at state levels, has adopted this case as a platform issue, with candidates like Aaron Day in New Hampshire running on freedom for crypto prisoners.