Samourai Wallet Developer Outlines 30-Day BOP Prison Transit in New Letter

In Samourai Letter #7, an incarcerated developer associated with privacy software Samourai Wallet detailed a grueling 30-day Bureau of Prisons transit from FPC Morgantown to FCI McKean that replaced what should have been a four-hour drive. ## Furlough Denied Ahead of 30-Day Transfer The transfer process began on June 5, when the developer was informed of an assignment to a 9-to-10-month drug and alcohol treatment program at FCI McKean, which grants a one-year sentence reduction upon successful completion. Due to a minimum-security status, two years spent on pre-trial release, self-surrender, and zero disciplinary incident reports, the inmate submitted an official request for a self-funded transfer furlough on June 5. However, prison officials denied the transfer furlough request on June 8 without offering an explanation. On June 10 at 6:00 AM, six inmates from FPC Morgantown were called to Receiving and Discharge, stripped, issued ill-fitting khaki trousers and canvas shoes, and placed in wrist cuffs, ankle shackles, and waist chains before boarding a transport bus guarded by heavily armed officers who stopped at Tudor's Biscuit World in West Virginia during the journey. ## Transit Hubs and Systemic Delays The transfer required navigating the U.S. Marshals Service and BOP transit network, which routinely routes prisoners through a central transit hub in Oklahoma City at an estimated cost of $10,000 per inmate. What was projected as a one-to-two-week movement stretched into a 30-day ordeal involving two transcontinental flights, three multi-hour bus trips, and holding cells where prisoners remained locked down behind iron bars for 23 hours a day alongside inmates serving time for murder. Key takeaways from the published account include: - Transfer Request: Inmate notified on June 5 of a transfer to FCI McKean for a program offering a 12-month sentence reduction. - Denied Furlough: Self-transport furlough denied on June 8, forcing entry into BOP transit at 6:00 AM on June 10. - Transit Costs: Systemic routing through Oklahoma City costs an estimated $10,000 per inmate and extended the four-hour journey across 30 days. - Ongoing Support: The letter calls for signatures on petitions supporting Samourai Wallet developers Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill. ## Why It Matters The detailed narrative offers insight into the personal and operational struggles facing developers caught in government enforcement actions against privacy-centric crypto tools. As legal pressure mounts against non-custodial privacy platforms, developer liability remains one of the most contentious issues in the industry, even as technical teams continue researching alternatives like shielded Bitcoin implementations for privacy.