Accused crypto currency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried has asked a judge to maintain secret the identities of two individuals who agreed to sign his bond, claiming they’d face harassment if their names were released.
Bankman-Fried was charged in a Manhattan federal court indictment in December on eight counts related to an alleged sprawling fraud, money-laundering and campaign-finance scheme after which sprung from custody.
His conditions for release required his parents co-sign a $250 million bond and two other unspecified individuals also ink lesser individual bonds.
In a letter filed Tuesday, Bankman-Fried’s lawyer asked Judge Lewis Kaplan that the 2 co-signers remain anonymous.
“In recent weeks, Mr. Bankman-Fried’s parents have turn into the goal of intense media scrutiny, harassment, and threats. Amongst other things, Mr. Bankman-Fried’s parents have received a gradual stream of threatening correspondence, including communications expressing a desire that they suffer physical harm,” his lawyer, Mark Cohen, wrote.
“Consequently, there’s serious cause for concern that the 2 additional sureties would face similar intrusions on their privacy in addition to threats and harassment if their names appear unredacted on their bonds or their identities are otherwise publicly disclosed,” Cohen added.
Federal prosecutors took no position on the request, in line with Cohen’s letter.
Bankman-Fried is ready to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Manhattan federal court and is predicted to enter a not guilty plea to the fees within the indictment.
Federal prosecutors allege he defrauded investors and customers of his crypto exchange FTX by diverting funds from the platform to his hedge fund Alameda Research.
Accused crypto currency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried has asked a judge to maintain secret the identities of two individuals who agreed to sign his bond, claiming they’d face harassment if their names were released.
Bankman-Fried was charged in a Manhattan federal court indictment in December on eight counts related to an alleged sprawling fraud, money-laundering and campaign-finance scheme after which sprung from custody.
His conditions for release required his parents co-sign a $250 million bond and two other unspecified individuals also ink lesser individual bonds.
In a letter filed Tuesday, Bankman-Fried’s lawyer asked Judge Lewis Kaplan that the 2 co-signers remain anonymous.
“In recent weeks, Mr. Bankman-Fried’s parents have turn into the goal of intense media scrutiny, harassment, and threats. Amongst other things, Mr. Bankman-Fried’s parents have received a gradual stream of threatening correspondence, including communications expressing a desire that they suffer physical harm,” his lawyer, Mark Cohen, wrote.
“Consequently, there’s serious cause for concern that the 2 additional sureties would face similar intrusions on their privacy in addition to threats and harassment if their names appear unredacted on their bonds or their identities are otherwise publicly disclosed,” Cohen added.
Federal prosecutors took no position on the request, in line with Cohen’s letter.
Bankman-Fried is ready to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Manhattan federal court and is predicted to enter a not guilty plea to the fees within the indictment.
Federal prosecutors allege he defrauded investors and customers of his crypto exchange FTX by diverting funds from the platform to his hedge fund Alameda Research.
