Bankman-Fried,
the founder of FTX, has faced another legal setback as an appeals court
rejected his attempt to secure pre-trial release ahead of his upcoming trial
scheduled for October 3rd. This decision comes after a series of legal
challenges and controversies surrounding the crypto entrepreneur.
In
August, Bankman-Fried’s release on bond was revoked by a judge who ruled that
he had allegedly attempted to tamper with witnesses in his ongoing legal case.
Earlier this month, his request to overturn this decision was also denied, and
yesterday, an appeals court upheld that denial.
The
appeals court stated their decision: “We reject [Bankman-Fried’s]
contention that the district court failed to consider a less restrictive alternative
to detention.”
“The
record shows that the district court considered all of the relevant factors,
including the Defendant-Appellant’s course of conduct over the time that had
required the district court to repeatedly tighten the conditions of release.”
Bankman-Fried
faces charges of fraud and conspiracy in connection with the operation and
subsequent collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange. He has consistently pleaded
not guilty to all seven charges brought against him.
This
recent court ruling marks the second setback for Bankman-Fried on the same day.
Judge Lewis Kaplan, overseeing the criminal case, granted prosecutors’ motions
to block every one of Bankman-Fried’s proposed expert witnesses.
While
the defense team may attempt to reintroduce some of these witnesses, they will
face additional hurdles, and the U.S. Department of Justice retains the right
to object to their inclusion.
The
upcoming trial of Bankman-Fried in a federal courtroom in
Manhattan is expected to draw significant attention within the cryptocurrency
community and the broader financial industry. Legal experts and observers will
closely monitor the proceedings as they unfold.
Bankman-Fried’s
legal battle is seen as a significant test case for the regulation and
oversight of the cryptocurrency industry, as authorities seek
to address potential misconduct and fraud within this rapidly evolving sector.
Bankman-Fried
Jailed Ahead of Trial amid Witness Tampering Allegations
Finance Magnates reported in August that Bankman-Fried has been sent to
jail by Judge Lewis Kaplan ahead of his criminal trial set for October 2, 2023. This
decision comes following allegations of witness tampering brought forth by U.S.
prosecutors.
Bankman-Fried
was initially…
