Global Courant
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried arrives at Manhattan Federal Court for trial in New York, United States on June 15, 2023.
Fatih Aktas/ | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Federal prosecutors on Thursday asked a judge to drop five charges against alleged crypto fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried, including bribery of a foreign government official, after a ruling by the Bahamas court cast doubt on whether the U.S. government did the right thing. procedure for filing charges against the former billionaire.
Bankman-Fried’s legal team had previously argued before both US and Bahamian judges that the charges were not part of the FTX founder’s original indictment, under which he had been extradited from the Bahamas months earlier. A Bahamian judge said they would review Bankman-Fried’s arguments earlier this week, prompting federal prosecutors’ request.
However, the charges have only been “separated” or pushed back to 2024, giving the federal government ample time to ensure the terms of the U.S.-Bahamas extradition treaty are met and to address the concerns of the government of the Bahamas.
The severance payment means Bankman-Fried’s legal team will now likely have to brace themselves for two legal battles: one to hear the original eight-count indictment later this year, and another in 2024, for the five charges that federal prosecutors will hear. asked to disconnect.
The office of US attorney Damian Williams is prosecuting Bankman-Fried. He was originally charged on eight counts, including conspiracy to commit mail and telegram fraud, for his role in allegedly orchestrating the theft of billions of dollars in customer assets and the collapse of crypto exchange FTX in late 2022.
Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty and is expected to face trial later this year.
