Disgraced FTX founder SBF pleads not guilty

Reports today allege that Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and ex-CEO of FTX, plead not guilty to a range of charges. The ex-CEO is facing criminal charges, which include money laundering and wire fraud.

Bankman-Fried pleads not guilty

The first plea hearing occurred at a US District Court in Manhattan. One of the main accusations by the SEC is that Sam Bankman Fried illegally invested its customers’ funds into a hedge fund, Alameda research. Alameda Research was founded by Sam Bankman-Fried and allegedly run by his girlfriend. 

Moreover, he allegedly used some of the customers’ monies to donate to political campaigns and buy property, causing a severe liquidity crisis that imploded spectacularly in early November. 

However, the ex-CEO took a not-guilty plea earlier today for all the charges against him. Following his plea, the courts set the trial date for October.2, 2023. If found guilty and convicted, Sam Bankman Fried faces over 100 years in prison, according to reports. 

Despite his arrest in the Bahamas and extradition to the United States, Sam Bankman-Fried has never actually admitted to committing any crimes.

In fact, earlier reports alleged that he had no plans to plead guilty. Earlier in the day, reports emerged that “Sam Bankman-Fried requests court keep his bond guarantors private.” This was to protect them from harassment and media scrutiny. 

State attorney announces the SDNY FTX Task Force

Amid the court ongoings, upcoming reports allege that US State Attorney Darmian Williams just set up a taskforce charged with investigating and prosecuting matters of FTX’s collapse and helping recover former FTX network customers’ funds.