Breaking: Court Grants Order Sealing Documents Related To Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao

In the latest development in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit against Binance co-founder Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao, the court has granted an order agreeing to seal documents related to the defendant’s opposition to the U.S. government’s request to review an earlier ruling on presentencing travel restrictions as to Changpeng Zhao.

Court Agrees to Seal CZ Documents

Former CEO Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao has been ordered by Judge Richard A. Jones to stay in the continental U.S. until the sentencing hearing scheduled for February 2024. Binance and CZ pleaded guilty to DOJ charges of anti-money laundering laws violation.

According to a court filing late December 12, Judge Jones accepted a motion by CZ attorneys to seal documents. The judge granted an order to seal the document of the defendant’s opposition to the government’s motion for review of the magistrate judge’s ruling on the defendant’s presentencing travel restrictions as to Changpeng Zhao.

The magistrate judge allowed CZ to travel to his family in the UAE and return before the sentencing hearing. However, DOJ prosecutors believed there’s a flight risk of CZ to a country that doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the US.

CZ facing a prison sentence of 10 years, but it is expected that the sentencing will be reduced to months. Judge Jones has further clarified that the court was not sufficiently convinced as to whether he would return to the US if allowed to travel now.

Meanwhile, CZ has hired notable attorneys for him. Recently, he hired veteran federal prosecutor Matthew Diggs, who will likely help CZ restrict his prison sentence to much lower than the theoretical 10 years.

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