Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, will remain in jail until his trial begins. This decision was made after Bankman-Fried’s argument that the district court had failed to consider a less restrictive alternative to detention was rejected.
The order emphasized that the district court had thoroughly assessed all relevant factors, including Bankman-Fried’s conduct over time, which had necessitated repeated tightening of release conditions.
Bankman-Fried’s trial is scheduled to commence on October 3 in a federal courtroom in Manhattan. He is facing a total of seven charges related to fraud and conspiracy, all linked to the operation and subsequent collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange.
The entrepreneur has pleaded not guilty to each of these charges.
This ruling represents the second setback for Bankman-Fried on the same day. Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is presiding over the criminal case, granted prosecutors’ motions to block all of the proposed expert witnesses put forward by the defense team.
Although there may be another opportunity to present some witnesses, certain conditions must be met, and the U.S. Department of Justice retains the right to object.
Sam Bankman-Fried is confronting seven counts of fraud and money laundering, with his plea of not guilty still standing.
Since August, he has been awaiting trial at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, having had his bail revoked due to allegations of attempting to tamper with witnesses.
During his detention, Bankman-Fried has encountered significant challenges. His access to lawyers has been limited, and unreliable internet access has impeded his ability to review the extensive electronic discovery materials crucial to his defense.
Both the prosecution and the defense are preparing to screen potential jurors for bias before the trial’s commencement on October 3.
Despite his legal troubles, Bankman-Fried has announced his intention to call expert witnesses during the trial.
However, this is impossible due to the funds available in his bank account.
We wait to see how this case unfolds and every occurrence along the way will be delivered from the team at gmblockchain.
