US DoJ Confirms Plans for Original 7-Count Charge Levied on SBF

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) is maintaining a 7-count charge on Sam Bankman-Fried with indictment slated for next week
By Godfrey Benjamin
FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried's Family Accused Of $100M Illicit Political Donation

The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) has confirmed plans to go ahead with the initial 7-count charge levied against embattled billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FTX.

Advertisement
Advertisement

US Government Honors Bahamas Treaty Obligation

According to a letter sent to Judge Lewis Kaplan by U.S. lawyer Damian Williams for the DoJ, the government is preparing to request a superseding indictment next week that will encompass these charges.

Arguments that Bankman-Fried was involved in an “illegal campaign finance scheme as part of the fraud and money laundering schemes” as was originally declared would be included in this superseding indictment. The letter also stated that Bankman-Fried’s use of customer funds to conduct a politically-influenced campaign was part of the wire fraud scheme he was charged with in the original indictment.

Markedly, the U.S. government does not plan to proceed with the eight-count of campaign finance charge as a way of honoring its treaty obligation with the Bahamas. Explicitly, the Bahamas stated that SBF’s criminal finance violation charge was deliberately omitted from its extradition and the country does not wish to go ahead with it.

“As the Court is aware, the Government is prevented by its treaty obligations to the Bahamas from proceeding on Count Eight of the original Indictment, after the Bahamas stated that the defendant’s criminal campaign finance scheme was deliberately omitted from its extradition,” Attorney Williams explained the position of the U.S. government.

Advertisement
Advertisement

SBF Requests Dismissal of Charges

The 31-year-old billionaire and his legal team had initially requested that 10 out of 13 criminal charges against him be dismissed, citing that he was hastily charged as the core reason. 

Their motion requested that he be left with only 3 including conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

However, Judge Kaplan denied the motion while clarifying that “the arguments are either moot or without merit.” 

At the same time, the federal judge explained that such considerations were only reserved for truly extreme cases of which Bankman-Fried does not qualify. 

Advertisement
Godfrey Benjamin
Benjamin Godfrey is a blockchain enthusiast and journalists who relish writing about the real life applications of blockchain technology and innovations to drive general acceptance and worldwide integration of the emerging technology. His desires to educate people about cryptocurrencies inspires his contributions to renowned blockchain based media and sites. Benjamin Godfrey is a lover of sports and agriculture. Follow him on X, Linkedin
Why trust CoinGape: CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.