One of the key witnesses on the ongoing FTX investigation could evade all the seven counts of allegations against her with a plea deal. Former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison would be prosecuted only for criminal tax violations and can be released immediately by paying the $250,000 bail.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A plea deal between Ellison and the Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York was published on Dec. 21. According to the document, the former Alameda exec will be spared of all the major charges, which could have cost her up to 110 years in jail. <\/p>\n
Ellison was alleged by the attorney on seven counts. Two of them for engaging in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud on customers of FTX and the wire fraud itself. Another two for engaging in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud on lenders of Alameda Research and the wire fraud itself. Count five charged her with conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, count six \u2014 for conspiracy to commit securities fraud to FTX equity investors. With the seventh count, she could be charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. <\/p>\n
The Attorney’s Office agrees not to prosecute Ellison on any of the seven counts in exchange for her cooperation \u2014 the complete disclosure of all the information and documents demanded by the Office. <\/p>\n