Judge Orders Sam Bankman-Fried Bail Overturned Over Allegations of Witness Intimidation: Report
A federal judge has reportedly revoked the bail release of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried after information was leaked to reporters from the New York Times in an alleged attempt to intimidate witnesses.
According to reports from people present at a hearing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on August 11, Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered Bankman-Fried’s release on bail revoked, suggesting this , that he will remain in prison until the end of his two trials for fraud related to his activities at FTX. Prosecutors had been pushing for the release of Bankman-Fried’s $250 million bail, which had kept him out of custody since his arraignment in December 2022 with the likely intent of former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison, as well to “hurt and frighten” his former colleague and friend.
Bankman-Fried’s legal team confirmed that he provided reporters with some of the information released, prompting Kaplan to issue a silence order preventing extrajudicial testimony related to the criminal case. Assistant US Attorney Danielle Sassoon reportedly cited Bankman-Fried’s breaches of previous bail conditions, including a message via the Signal app to FTX US General Counsel Ryne Miller in January, in which he used a virtual private network for his internet activities reporters wanted to intimidate Ellison.
“In light of the evidence, I have concluded that there is likely reason to believe that the defendant attempted witness tampering on at least two occasions,” Kaplan said, listing other violations. “All things considered, I will be revoking bail.”
SBF just arrived to court – a judge could send him to jail this afternoon over witness tampering. Here’s a primer ahead of the hearing: https://t.co/7xA205agrD w/ @DawnGiel https://t.co/tb29du8WGY pic.twitter.com/shdjrbPeTG
— MacKenzie Sigalos (@KenzieSigalos) August 11, 2023
Sassoon reportedly argued SBF allegedly asked witnesses to delete certain messages and documents. Bankman-Fried’s attorney, Mark Cohen, reportedly urged the judge to allow SBF to continue his bail requirements, citing the need to coordinate with the legal department, adding that any allegations of witness intimidation would be a subject of his October trial.
“Just because the accused was more subtle than a gangster doesn’t mean it’s okay. It is sufficient for the court to conclude that detention is appropriate when he is unlikely to live up to his bail conditions,” Sassoon reportedly said. “He intends to compromise the integrity of the process.”
Cohen reportedly said SBF’s legal team planned to appeal the verdict and urged Kaplan to stay his order until then. However, the judge denied the request and ordered Bankman-Fried’s pre-trial detention, likely at the Putnam 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.
