Prosecutors Claim Sam Bankman-Fried Tried To Influence Witness’ Testimony

• Federal prosecutors have accused Sam Bankman-Fried of attempting to influence a witness in his criminal case. 
• The U.S. Attorney’s office has asked for stricter terms, including a communications ban.
• SBF reportedly used encrypted messaging apps to reach out to former FTX colleagues. 
• The witness reportedly has incriminating evidence against the former FTX CEO. 

The U.S. Department of Justice has taken issue with Sam Bankman-Fried’s attempts to reach out to employees of FTX. According to a letter to Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is overseeing the criminal case against the former FTX CEO, the U.S. Attorney’s office is seeking a modification of SBF’s pretrial release in order to address the inappropriate communications he engaged in. 

Stricter terms for Sam Bankman-Fried’s bail

Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, informed Judge Kaplan that SBF reached out to Ryne Miller, the General Counsel of FTX US, on 15 January. Several messages were sent using email and Signal, an encrypted messaging application. 

“I would really love to reconnect and see if there’s a way for us to have a constructive relationship, use each other as resources when possible, or at least vet things with each other,”

Federal prosecutors believe that SBF’s messages are suggestive of an effort to influence Miller’s potential testimony and that the appeal for a “constructive relationship” implies that Miller should align with his former boss. The prosecutors claimed that SBF is aware that Miller has information that can potentially “inculpate” him. 

Sam Bankman-Fried reached out to other current and former employees of FTX. These communications have become a matter of concern for the Department of Justice. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has asked the court to impose two conditions on SBF’s bond. The first is that he shall not contact any employees of FTX, former or currently employed. The second condition is that he shall not use any encrypted or ephemeral call or messaging application, including but not limited to Signal.

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