Sam Bankman-Fried tried to influence witness through Signal, DOJ alleges

Federal prosecutors are attempting to barroom indicted FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried from utilizing encrypted messaging software, citing efforts that whitethorn "constitute witnesser tampering," according to a missive filed successful Manhattan national tribunal Friday.

Bankman-Fried reached retired to the "current General Counsel of FTX US who whitethorn beryllium a witnesser astatine trial," prosecutors said. Ryne Miller, who was not identified by sanction successful the authorities filing, is the existent counsel for FTX US, and a erstwhile spouse astatine Kirkland & Ellis.

The authorities claims that Bankman-Fried wrote to Miller via Signal, an encrypted messaging app, connected Jan. 15, days aft bankruptcy officials astatine crypto speech disclosed the betterment of much than $5 cardinal successful FTX assets.

"I would truly emotion to reconnect and spot if there's a mode for america to person a constructive relationship, usage each different arsenic resources erstwhile possible, oregon astatine slightest vet things with each other," Bankman-Fried allegedly told Miller.

Bankman-Fried has besides been successful interaction with "other existent and erstwhile FTX employees," the filing said. Federal prosecutors allege that Bankman-Fried's petition suggests an effort to power the witness's testimony, and that Bankman-Fried's effort to amended his narration with Miller "may itself represent witnesser tampering."

Miller did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

In restricting Bankman-Fried's entree to Signal and different encrypted messaging platforms, the authorities cites a request to "prevent obstruction of justice." Federal prosecutors assertion that Bankman-Fried directed Alameda and FTX done Slack and Signal, and ordered his employees acceptable communications to "autodelete aft 30 days oregon less."

Citing antecedently undisclosed grounds from ex-Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison, the authorities claimed that Bankman-Fried indicated "many ineligible cases crook connected documentation and it is much hard to physique a ineligible lawsuit if accusation is not written down oregon preserved." Ellison pled guilty to aggregate charges of fraud and has been cooperating with the U.S. Attorney's efforts to physique a lawsuit against Bankman-Fried.

Bankman-Fried pled not blameworthy to 8 charges successful transportation with the illness of his multi-billion dollar crypto empire, FTX. He is owed successful national tribunal successful October, after being released connected $250 cardinal bond.