Varinder Singh
Federal prosecutors allege FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried used the encrypted messaging app Signal to influence a witness in his fraud crime case. Prosecutors asked a judge to ban Sam Bankman-Fried from contacting current and former employees of FTX or Alameda Research and using encrypted call or messaging applications, including the Signal app.
Prosecutors Seek Stricter Bans on Sam Bankman-Fried
In a court filing on January 27, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York alleges that Sam Bankman-Fried sent messages over email and the encrypted messaging app Signal to Ryne Miller, General Counsel of FTX US.
Prosecutors assert Sam Bankman-Fried tried to influence witness Ryne Miller’s potential testimony. Prosecutors asked Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to prohibit SBF from contacting current and former FTX employees or using Signal or other encrypted apps to communicate. SBF wrote:
“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.”
According to prosecutors, Sam Bankman-Fried’s use of Signal may constitute witness tampering as he has also been in contact with other current and former FTX employees.
Sam Bankman-Fried is charged with 8 criminal counts including fraud, money laundering, and campaign finance violations for the collapse of FTX in November last year. He pleaded not guilty to any charges against him.
Currently, he is confined to his parents’ home near Stanford University in Northern California. His $250 million bond bail was approved by Judge Kaplan and the next court hearing is due on October 2.
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