A federal judge has reportedly revoked former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried\u2019s bail following the release of information to New York Times reporters in an alleged attempt to intimidate witnesses.<\/p>\n
According to reports of individuals present at an Aug. 11 hearing in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered Bankman-Fried\u2019s bail revoked, suggesting he will be held in jail through the end of his two trials for fraud related to his activities at FTX. Prosecutors had been pushing for the revocation of Bankman-Fried\u2019s $250 million bail, which had kept him out of custody since his arraignment in December 2022.<\/p>\n
Kaplan reportedly said that Bankman-Fried\u2019s interviews with New York Times reporters resulted in sharing information with the likely intention \u201cto hurt and frighten\u201d former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison, his former colleague and girlfriend. Bankman-Fried\u2019s legal team confirmed he had provided the reporters with some of the published information, which led Kaplan to impose a gag order preventing extrajudicial statements related to the criminal case.<\/p>\n
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon reportedly cited Bankman-Fried\u2019s violations of previous bail conditions, which included a message on the Signal app to FTX US general counsel Ryne Miller in January, using a virtual private network for his internet activity and releasing information to reporters aimed at intimidating Ellison. Sassoon added that the Putnam County Correctional Facility was prepared to offer Bankman-Fried, who also goes by \u201cSBF,” a laptop should the judge order him remanded but also suggested home detention with restrictions on Google Drive was an option. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn view of the evidence, my conclusion is that there is probable cause to believe that the defendant has attempted to tamper with witnesses at least twice,\u201d said Kaplan, listing additional violations. \u201cAll things considered, I am going to revoke bail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sassoon reportedly argued SBF had allegedly asked witnesses to delete certain messages and documents. Bankman-Fried\u2019s attorney, Mark Cohen, reportedly pressed the judge to allow SBF to continue his bail conditions, citing the need to coordinate with the legal team, and added any allegations of witness intimidation were a matter for his October trial. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust because the defendant was more subtle than a mobster doesn\u2019t mean it’s okay. […] It’s enough for the court to conclude detention is appropriate if he\u2019s unlikely to abide by his bail conditions,\u201d reportedly said Sassoon. \u201cHe is intent on interfering with the integrity of the trial.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cohen reportedly said SBF\u2019s legal team intended to appeal the ruling and pressed Kaplan to stay his order until such time. However, the judge denied the motion and ordered Bankman-Fried remanded to custody, likely at the\u00a0Putnam County Correctional Facility. Once the October trial begins, SBF could be moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He was reportedly led out of the courtroom in handcuffs.<\/p>\n