Former FTX executive Sam Bankman-Fried (centre) arrives to plead guilty before U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan federal court, New York, January 3, 2023.
Ed Jones | AFP | beautiful pictures
Federal prosecutors are trying to bar FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried from being indicted for using encrypted messaging software, citing efforts that could “constitute witness tampering.” according to a letter filed in Manhattan federal court on Friday.
Prosecutors said Bankman-Fried was in contact with “the current General Counsel of FTX US, who may be a witness at the trial.” Ryne Miller, who was not named in government records, is a current advisor to FTX US and a former partner of Kirkland & Ellis.
The government claims that Bankman-Fried wrote to Miller through Signal, an encrypted messaging app, on January 15, days after bankruptcy officials at the crypto exchange revealed the recovery of more than $5 billion in FTX assets.
“I really wanted to reconnect and see if there was a way we could have a constructive relationship, use each other as a resource when possible, or at least test things out against each other,” said Bankman. -Fried allegedly told Miller.
Bankman-Fried also contacted “other current and former FTX employees,” the filing said. Federal prosecutors allege that Bankman-Fried’s request shows an attempt to influence witness testimony and that Bankman-Fried’s attempt to improve his relationship with Miller “could spontaneously it constitutes witness tampering.”
Miller did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In restricting Bankman-Fried’s access to Signal and other encrypted messaging platforms, the government argued that obstruction of justice should be “prevented.” Federal prosecutors claim that Bankman-Fried directed Alameda and FTX through Slack and Signal, and ordered its employees to set communications to “automatically delete after 30 days or less.” “
Citing previously undisclosed testimony from former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison, the government stated that Bankman-Fried has shown that “many legal cases turn into documents and it will be difficult to build a school.” more legitimacy if the information is not written down or kept.” Ellison pleads guilty with multiple fraud charges and has cooperated with the efforts of the United States Attorney to build a case against Bankman-Fried.
Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to eight charges related to the collapse of his multibillion-dollar crypto empire, FTX. He will appear in federal court in October, after being released on a $250 million bond.
