Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has pleaded not responsible to new accusations that accuse him of attempting to affect U.S. politics by funneling $100 million in stolen money. The Southern District of New York courts accused Bankman-Fried of seven counts of fraud, cash laundering, and conspiracy on Tuesday.
Judge Netburn: You are charged in seven counts [Count 8, campaign finance charges, is gone] How do you plead?
Bankman-Fried: Not responsible.
AUSA: We’d wish to exclude time till the trial, October 3.
Mark Cohen for SBF: We’d like to lift two matters relating to the MDC— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) August 22, 2023
August 11 noticed a $250 million bail rev for the 31-year-old millionaire as a consequence of witness tampering accusations. Subsequently, he was despatched to Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, the place he’s been ever since. Bankman-Fried, in his sixth superseding indictment listening to since his arrest, pled not responsible to all allegations.
Accusations and Defense Strategy
The allegations in opposition to the embattled former billionaire have modified a number of occasions. Prosecutors not too long ago dropped a number of expenses that had not been agreed upon throughout his extradition from the Bahamas in December, in keeping with an extradition treaty with the Caribbean nation. Bankman-Fried nonetheless faces accusations of marketing campaign finance corruption, however this isn’t a separate cost within the newest indictment.
Bankman-Fried’s defense group has raised issues about their consumer’s well-being in federal lockup. They reported that he has been having issue accessing prescription medicine and sustaining a vegan food regimen.
His attorneys requested lodging for his dietary wants and entry to Adderall, a drug he takes for attention-deficit/hyperactivity dysfunction. They additionally famous that the jail had not supplied him with EMSAM, an antidepressant.
Defence Preparation Concerns
Bankman-Fried’s attorneys additionally cited Sixth Amendment rights violations, claiming their consumer couldn’t correctly put together for trial as a consequence of his detention since August 11. They famous that they’d solely been supplied fictional options.
🚨NEW: Judge Kaplan has granted @SBF_FTX approval to satisfy together with his attorneys from round 8:30AM-3:00PM tomorrow on the day of his arraignment for the superseding indictment. His attorneys are allowed to convey one internet-enabled laptop computer and one Wi-Fi machine to the assembly. 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/2dpAEHbaPb
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) August 21, 2023
The protection argued that with out web entry and correct meals and medicine, Bankman-Fried would wrestle to defend himself in opposition to what his legal professional Mark Cohen described as an particularly complicated set of expenses.
Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn presided over the listening to. She mentioned she would examine the problems raised by the protection after the listening to adjourned, to resolve them by the tip of the day.
The trial for Bankman-Fried is about to start in early October. The prosecution and protection have submitted proposed jury directions, which give pointers on how the decide ought to clarify the fees and allegations to jurors.
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