Court Upholds Detention of Ex-FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, Deeming Release Arguments ‘Unpersuasive’ Sam Bankman-Fried is eager to leave incarceration at
Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where he has been since August. In a recent effort, his attorneys sought to secure his release while preparing for his appeal, filing a motion with the
Court of Appeals. However, the court’s clerk
, Catherine O’Hagan Wolfe, firmly rejected this plea, maintaining the necessity for continued imprisonment. The decision by the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit,
is rooted in the initial grounds for revoking his bail. The court identified credible evidence suggesting Bankman-Fried attempted to influence two witnesses, which played a pivotal role in the decision against his release.
Furthermore, the court dismissed the argument that
alternatives to detention weren’t adequately evaluated. The district court had previously intensified release stipulations in response to Bankman-Fried’s actions, concluding that no viable option existed apart from detention.
Moreover, the court characterized Bankman-Fried’s arguments as
“unpersuasive” and “denied as moot.” His sentencing
is scheduled for March 28, 2024, and he potentially faces
a sentence exceeding a century for his crimes. These recent legal maneuvers by his team indicate a determination to challenge the case in the Court of Appeals.
