Prosecutor opens trial for FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried saying he stole at least $10 billion

9

The trial for Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX, commenced with a prosecutor’s opening statement, alleging that Bankman-Fried orchestrated a historic fraud scheme that left customers and investors bereft of at least $10 billion they believed to be secure. A defense attorney vehemently refuted these accusations, asserting that Bankman-Fried did not engage in any theft.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Rehn, addressing the jury, repeatedly directed their attention to Bankman-Fried, who sat alongside his legal team in a suit. Rehn accused him of “committing a massive fraud.” According to the prosecutor, Bankman-Fried deceived his investors while misappropriating their funds for personal use. He purportedly spent these ill-gotten gains on luxury homes, beachfront properties in the Bahamas, and substantial political donations aimed at gaining influence in Washington.

Despite facing seven charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy, Bankman-Fried, aged 31, maintains his innocence. He contends that he was not responsible for the alleged massive fraud. In court, he appeared with a water bottle and a laptop before him.

Prosecutors allege that Bankman-Fried, a California resident, defrauded thousands of investors and customers of billions of dollars by diverting their funds for personal purposes, including financing his businesses and making substantial political contributions to influence cryptocurrency regulation.

However, the defense vehemently denies any criminal intent on Bankman-Fried’s part. They argue that he rose to prominence in the crypto world while developing FTX and Alameda Research into multibillion-dollar entities within the cryptocurrency industry.

In his opening statement, defense attorney Mark Cohen presented a contrasting narrative, asserting that Bankman-Fried had a different story to tell about his cryptocurrency empire’s growth from 2017 to 2022. Cohen insisted that Bankman-Fried had not defrauded anyone and had no intention to do so, portraying him as a “math nerd” who refrained from drinking or partying. He highlighted Bankman-Fried’s education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his years on Wall Street as factors contributing to his success.

Cohen further argued that Bankman-Fried’s actions during the final days as the head of his companies were indicative of his belief that he was managing a liquidity crisis caused by a cryptocurrency market collapse and criticism from a major competitor, which led to customers rushing to recover their deposits.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who previously described the FTX fraud as one of the largest in U.S. history, was present at the trial. Bankman-Fried came under investigation when FTX faced a collapse last November, triggering a rush of customers attempting to retrieve their deposits. This occurred less than a year after Bankman-Fried spent millions on Super Bowl advertisements featuring celebrities like Larry David, Tom Brady, and Stephen Curry to promote FTX as the “safest and easiest way to buy and sell crypto.”

Following his arrest in the Bahamas last December, Bankman-Fried was extradited to the United States. Initially, he was ordered to stay at home with his parents in Palo Alto, California, as part of a $250 million bail package. However, his bond was revoked, and he was incarcerated in August after Judge Lewis A. Kaplan determined that he had attempted to influence trial witnesses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Trial

More about Trial

• [FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s Trial Begins](Insert Link)
• [Charges Against Sam Bankman-Fried](Insert Link)
• [Amount Involved in the Fraud Case](Insert Link)
• [Defense’s Arguments](Insert Link)
• [Prosecution’s Key Arguments](Insert Link)
• [Notable Individuals in the Lawsuit](Insert Link)
• [Arrest and Extradition of Sam Bankman-Fried](Insert Link)
• [Revocation of Bond](Insert Link)