DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Bankman-Fried may face 'very long sentence' if convicted, judge says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried, the indicted founder of now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, may face a "very long sentence" if convicted at his fraud trial starting next week, the judge overseeing the case said on Thursday. Kaplan said Bankman-Fried was a flight risk. "Your client in the event of conviction could be looking at a very long sentence," Kaplan said in a hearing in Manhattan federal court. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of fraud and conspiracy stemming from FTX's collapse in November 2022. Prosecutors say Bankman-Fried stole billions of dollars in FTX customer deposits to plug losses at Alameda Research, a crypto-focused hedge fund he controlled.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, District Judge Lewis Kaplan's, Kaplan, Bankman, Fried, Mark Cohen, FTX, Danielle Kudla, Palo, Caroline Ellison's, Ellison, Gary Wang, Nishad Singh, Luc Cohen, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, District, Metropolitan Detention, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, Alameda, New York Times, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Manhattan, Bahamas, United States, Brooklyn, Palo Alto , California

☆ Who is Caroline Ellison, a key witness set to testify against Sam Bankman-Fried?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Now, a year after Alameda collapsed, Ellison is preparing to testify as a key witness at the Oct. 3 criminal fraud trial against its founder, another budding young philanthropist who also owned the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange: Sam Bankman-Fried. She told the FTX podcast she decided to join Bankman-Fried at Alameda despite lacking experience with cryptocurrencies to "maximize my impact." ELLISON MAY TESTIFY ABOUT ENCRYPTED MESSAGESProsecutors may ask Ellison about whether Bankman-Fried directed employees to use encrypted messaging platforms and ensure their messages automatically deleted. She has told prosecutors that Bankman-Fried said it is hard to build a case if information is not written down or preserved, court records show. Days before FTX declared bankruptcy, Ellison told Bankman-Fried her "increasing dread of this day" had been weighing on her for a long time, according to prosecutors.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Bankman, Alameda's, Sam, ELLISON, Jane Street, Harry Potter, Fried, Jane, FTX, Kaplan, Luc Cohen, Noeleen Walder, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Stanford, Alameda Research, Alameda, Prosecutors, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York Times, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Alameda, Bahamas, Manhattan, Boston, Fried, FTX

Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey,delivers remarks, after he and his wife Nadine Menendez were indicted on bribery offenses in connection with an alleged corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen, in Union City, New Jersey, U.S., September 25, 2023. Senator Bob Menendez is set to appear in court on Wednesday to face charges of taking bribes from three New Jersey businessman, as calls for his resignation from his fellow Democrats escalated. Menendez, his wife Nadine Menendez, 56, and businessmen Jose Uribe, 56, and Fred Daibes, 66, are set to appear in Manhattan federal court around 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT). David Schertler, a lawyer for Nadine Menendez, said she intends to plead not guilty and "vigorously defend" against the allegations. Lawyers for Bob Menendez, Uribe and Daibes did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mike Segar, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, David Schertler, Uribe, Daibes, Cory Booker, Phil Murphy, Hana, Luc Cohen, Andrew Goudsward, Scott Malone, Timothy Gardner 私 Organizations: Democrat, REUTERS, Senate Foreign Relations, Senate, U.S, Democratic Senators, Democratic New, Prosecutors Locations: New Jersey, Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, Manhattan, Democratic New Jersey, Washington

☆ Who is Sam Bankman-Fried, the onetime crypto mogul set to testify in his own defense?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

NEW YORK, Oct 26 (Reuters) - A few years after graduating from college, Sam Bankman-Fried grew worried he was not taking enough risks. Two years after launching a hedge fund, Alameda Research, Bankman-Fried founded FTX, an exchange that let users buy and sell digital assets such as bitcoin. Based in the Bahamas, Bankman-Fried became known for his mop of unkempt curly hair and for wearing rumpled shorts, even when entertaining dignitaries like Bill Clinton. They contend the theft came to a head in 2022, when crypto prices swooned and he used FTX funds to plug losses at Alameda. Defense lawyers have argued that their cooperation agreements with prosecutors encourage them to implicate Bankman-Fried in the hopes of receiving lenient sentences.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Bill Clinton, Tom Brady, Larry David, FTX, Caroline Ellison, Alameda's, Forbes, Bankman, Jane Street, Gary Wang, Ellison, Nishad Singh, Wang, Singh, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, FTX's, influencer, Luc Cohen, Noeleen Walder, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Stanford Law School, Alameda Research, Forbes, Democratic, NFL, Alameda, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bankman, Prison, MIT, Jane, U.S, District, New York Times, Times, Thomson Locations: Bahamas, Manhattan, Alameda, United States, Asia, New York

"I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving," Booker said in a statement. I urge Senator Menendez to resign," said Senator Gary Peters, the head of Senate Democrats' campaign arm, in a statement. Many Democratic elected officials in Menendez's state of New Jersey, including Governor Phil Murphy, have also called for Menendez to resign. Menendez's Senate seat will be among those decided in next year's election. The probe marks the third time Menendez has been under investigation by federal prosecutors.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mike Segar, Cory Booker, Bob Menendez, Booker, Menendez, Chuck Schumer, Gary Peters, Phil Murphy, Andy Kim, Murphy, Wael Hana, Makini Brice, Jeff Mason, Eric Beech, Luc Cohen, Josie Kao, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Democratic, Senate, Republicans, U.S . Senate, Democrats, Democratic U.S, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, New, Thomson Locations: Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, Northeastern, New Jersey, Menendez's, Egypt, Manhattan, New York

☆ Ex-Venezuela Oil Minister's Pilot Pleads Guilty to Violating US Sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Luc CohenNEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. pilot pleaded guilty on Tuesday to violating American sanctions by transporting former Venezuelan oil minister Tareck El Aissami, whom Washington accuses of drug trafficking. Victor Mones, who founded the Florida private jet firm, pleaded guilty in 2019 to violating sanctions. The United States sanctioned El Aissami in 2017, accusing him of helping arrange drug shipments out of Venezuela, including to the United States and Mexico, through his control of a Venezuelan airbase and shipping ports. The United States accuses Maduro of corruption, human rights violations and rigging elections, which he denies. El Aissami has denied wrongdoing.

Persons: Luc Cohen NEW, Tareck El Aissami, Washington, Michols Orsini, Alvin Hellerstein, Orsini, Victor Mones, El Aissami, Mones, Nicolas Maduro, Luc Cohen, David Gregorio Organizations: Luc Cohen NEW YORK, U.S, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, El, El Aissami, United Locations: U.S, Manhattan, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Florida, El, United States, Mexico, Venezuelan, Washington, New York

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's trial to test dueling explanations for FTX’s collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

He plastered FTX's logo on a basketball arena in Miami and on MLB baseball umpires' uniforms. Prosecutors say Bankman-Fried directed Wang to change FTX's computer code to allow Alameda to borrow unlimited sums of money, a privilege other exchange users lacked. Bankman-Fried's defense lawyers have indicated in court papers that they plan to challenge the credibility of all three witnesses. "The question is, when did Bankman-Fried know that there wouldn't be enough money?" Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Amy Stevens and Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, Fried, Jane Street, FTX, Damian Williams, Forbes, Bankman, It's, Mark Kasten, Buchanan Ingersoll, Rooney, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, Nishad Singh, Wang, Singh, Ellison, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Paul Tuchmann, Wiggin, Dana, Luc Cohen, Amy Stevens, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Wall, Alameda Research, MLB, Prosecutors, Attorney, Bankman, Alameda, District, New York Times, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Manhattan, Miami, Alameda, Bahamas

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) delivers remarks, after he and his wife Nadine Menendez were indicted on bribery offenses in connection with their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen, in Union City, New Jersey, U.S., September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - A New Jersey businessman pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of bribing U.S. Senator Bob Menendez. Menendez, 69, his 56-year-old wife, Nadine Menendez, and two other businessmen accused of bribing the senior New Jersey senator are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday. Prosecutors say Hana, who is originally from Egypt, arranged meetings in 2018 between Menendez and Egyptian officials.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mike Segar, Bob Menendez, Wael Hana, Judge Ona Wang, Menendez, Hana, Washington, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, New, Prosecutors, Senate Foreign Relations, Thomson Locations: Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, New Jersey, Manhattan, Egypt, United States, New York

☆ Bankman-Fried prosecutors may show jury evidence of political donations, judge rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Luc Cohen | トムソンロイター | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Indicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves the United States Courthouse in New York City, U.S., July 26, 2023. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan said evidence of the former billionaire's donations were "intertwined inextricably" with charges he defrauded FTX customers by stealing billions of dollars in deposits. Prosecutors said he used $100 million in stolen FTX deposits to fund those donations, which he hoped would spur the passage of crypto-friendly legislation. Prosecutors said Bankman-Fried later sought to interfere with the bankruptcy estate, and undermine FTX creditors, by moving assets to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by Bahamian regulators. Kaplan said such evidence would be relevant at trial.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Amr Alfiky, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, FTX, Luc Cohen, Daniel Wallis 私 Organizations: FTX, United, REUTERS, U.S, District, Federal, Democratic, Prosecutors Locations: New York City, U.S, Manhattan, Bahamas, New York

"The alleged facts are so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state," Murphy - who would appoint a temporary replacement for Menendez should he resign - said in a statement. "Behind the scenes, Senator Menendez was doing those things for certain people - the people that were bribing him and his wife," Williams said. A lawyer for Nadine Menendez, 56, who has been married to the senator since 2020, said she denied wrongdoing and would "vigorously defend" against the allegations in court. MENENDEZ HAS FACED OTHER PROBESThe investigation marks the third time Menendez has been investigated by federal prosecutors, although he has never been convicted. Bob and Nadine Menendez also each face one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Menendez, Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden, Phil Murphy, Murphy, Prosecutors, Damian Williams, Williams, Nadine Menendez, MENENDEZ, Robert Menedez, Jonathan Ernst, Ben Cardin, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ted Stevens, Larry Craig, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Bob, Hana, Washington, Uribe, Daibes, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel, Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick, Simon Lewis, Makini Brice, Andrew Goudsward, Tom Hals, Mark Porter, Daniel Wallis, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: U.S, Jersey businessmen, U.S . Senate, Foreign, Democratic, U.S . House, Representatives, Benz, Capitol, REUTERS, Republican, U.S . Department of Agriculture, New, Menendez, Daibes, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Jersey, U.S, Manhattan, Egypt, Ukraine, China . New Jersey, New Jersey, Washington , U.S, Cuban American, Cuba, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Alaska, Idaho, United States, Washington, New York

☆ Senator Menendez's Wife of Three Years at Center of Bribery Allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

A lawyer for Arslanian, who also goes by Nadine Menendez, said she denied wrongdoing and would "vigorously defend" against the allegations in court. Arslanian, 56, reportedly met Menendez, 69, at an IHOP pancake restaurant, which the senator has praised as a favorite dining spot. Soon after she met Menendez, Arslanian worked with businessman Wael Hana to introduce the senator, the powerful chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, to Egyptian officials, the indictment said. In May of that year, Menendez sought sensitive information from the U.S. State Department regarding personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, and texted it to Arslanian. She then forwarded it to Egyptian officials, according to the indictment.

Persons: Tom Hals, Luc Cohen, Bob Menendez, Nadine Arslanian, Menendez, Arslanian, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Hana, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S ., Foreign Relations, U.S . State Department, U.S, Embassy, Strategic, Business Locations: New Jersey, COVID, India, Cairo, Egypt, Englewood Cliffs , New Jersey, Wilmington , Delaware, New York

Senator Robert Menedez (D-NJ) walks to the Senate floor for a procedural vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. September 20, 2023. The investigation marks the third time Menendez has been investigated by federal prosecutors, but he has never been convicted. Prosecutors said Hana, who is originally from Egypt, arranged dinners and meetings between Menendez and Egyptian officials in 2018 at which the officials pressed Menendez on the status of U.S. military aid. Menendez at a meeting in 2018 told Hana non-public information about the status of the aid, prosecutors said. Hana then texted an Egyptian official, "The ban on small arms and ammunition to Egypt has been lifted," according to the indictment.

Persons: Robert Menedez, Jonathan Ernst, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Joe Biden, Prosecutors, Damian Williams, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Uribe, Daibes, Hana, Egypt’s, Jon Corzine, Clifford Case, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel, Simon Lewis, Andrew Goudsward, Tom Hals, Mark Porter Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, New Jersey businessmen, U.S . Senate, Foreign Relations, Prosecutors, NBC, Benz, Hana, State Department, U.S . Department of Agriculture, USDA, New, Republican, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, New Jersey, U.S, Manhattan, Egypt, Ukraine, China, United States, Washington, New York

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and his wife Nadine Arslanian arrive for a state dinner in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 1, 2022. A lawyer for Arslanian, who also goes by Nadine Menendez, said she denied wrongdoing and would "vigorously defend" against the allegations in court. Arslanian, 56, reportedly met Menendez, 69, at an IHOP pancake restaurant, which the senator has praised as a favorite dining spot. Soon after she met Menendez, Arslanian worked with businessman Wael Hana to introduce the senator, the powerful chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, to Egyptian officials, the indictment said. She then forwarded it to Egyptian officials, according to the indictment.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Nadine Arslanian, Emmanuel Macron, Amanda Andrade, Rhoades, Menendez, Arslanian, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Hana, Tom Hals, Luc Cohen, Daniel Wallis Organizations: White, REUTERS, U.S ., Foreign Relations, U.S . State Department, U.S, Embassy, Strategic, Business, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, New Jersey, COVID, India, Cairo, Egypt, Englewood Cliffs , New Jersey, Wilmington , Delaware, New York

Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan. In her writings, she described feeling "unhappy and overwhelmed" with her job and "hurt/rejected" from a breakup with Bankman-Fried. A lawyer for Bankman-Fried told the appeals court on Sept. 19 that Kaplan failed to credit the defendant for exercising his First Amendment constitutional right to speak with the press and try to restore his reputation. The appeals court appeared skeptical. Bankman-Fried faces seven charges of fraud and conspiracy stemming from the collapse of FTX, the now-bankrupt crypto exchange he founded.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Fried, Kaplan, Danielle Sassoon, William Nardini, Luc Cohen Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Circuit, District, Alameda Research, New York Times, Bankman, Metropolitan Detention, Prosecutors, Alameda, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Manhattan . U.S, Alameda, Palo Alto , California, FTX

REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Thursday restricted Sam Bankman-Fried's ability to call expert witnesses to testify at his criminal fraud trial, in a blow to the FTX cryptocurrency exchange founder. But in a written order, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan said three proposed witnesses cannot take the stand, because their testimony was irrelevant or could confuse the jury. He also said Bankman-Fried may seek to call the remaining four experts, but only to rebut prosecution witnesses. Among the witnesses Kaplan rejected was Peter Vinella, a consultant who intended to testify about "FTX's use of widely-accepted practices in the financial services industry." It is common in U.S. criminal trials for prosecutors and defendants to call experts to help jurors understand complex issues.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Amr Alfiky, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Peter Vinella, Lawrence Akka, Luc Cohen, Daniel Wallis Organizations: United, REUTERS, Alameda Research, District, Prosecutors, Alameda, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Alameda, Bankman, New York

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried to argue for release from NY jail two weeks before trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

This included his sharing the personal writings of Caroline Ellison, the former chief executive of his Alameda Research hedge fund, with a New York Times reporter. Ellison has pleaded guilty to fraud and is expected to testify against Bankman-Fried, a former romantic partner. Bankman-Fried faces seven charges of fraud and conspiracy stemming from the November 2022 collapse of his now-bankrupt company. Prosecutors countered in court papers that Bankman-Fried sought to use the Times as a "mouthpiece for discrediting a government witness shortly before trial." They also said Bankman-Fried has had no more difficulty preparing for trial than any other detainee.

Persons: Sam Bankman, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Bankman, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Fried, jailing, Kaplan, Luc Cohen, Will Dunham Organizations: Manhattan U.S, U.S, Circuit, District, Alameda Research, New York Times, Bankman, Prosecutors, Alameda, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn, Alameda, New York

[1/2] The logo of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) is pictured at the company's headquarters in Mexico City, Mexico July 26, 2023. A third senior trading source confirmed that Vitol had resumed business with Mexico. Neither the deals nor the fact that Mexico resumed trading with Vitol have previously been reported. Vitol declined to comment while Pemex and the Mexican government did not respond to requests for comment. Eventually, Pemex officials pulled the plug on contract negotiations after Vitol officials refused their proposed changes to terms.

Persons: Raquel Cunha, Pemex, cargos, Vitol, Arvin, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Octavio Romero, Pemex's Romero, Javier Aguilar, Aguilar, Stefanie Eschenbacher, Ana Isabel Martinez, Dmitry Zhdannikov, Luc Cohen, Marianna Parraga, Florence Tan, Stephen Eisenhammer, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, U.S . Department of Justice, Thames, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, MEXICO, Swiss, Brazil, Ecuador, Liberia, Houston, Pajaritos, Denmark, Tuxpan, Tampico, America, Geneva, U.S, Brooklyn, London, New York, Singapore

☆ Judge temporarily halts NY fraud trial against Trump, pending appeal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump departs from Trump Tower to give a deposition to New York Attorney General Letitia James who sued Trump and his Trump Organization, in New York City, U.S., April 13, 2023. According to the court spokesman, appeals court Justice David Friedman granted an interim stay of the trial, and referred the matter to a five-judge panel, which expects to rule in the last week of September. The trial could still begin on Oct. 2 depending on how the appeals court, known as the First Department, rules. Friedman's stay does not apply to a scheduled Sept. 22 hearing before Engoron on both sides' motions for summary judgment, which can proceed as planned, the court spokesman said. She is seeking a $250 million fine, and to bar Trump and his sons Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump from leading the family business, the Trump Organization.

Persons: Donald Trump, Letitia James, Trump, Mike Segar, Arthur Engoron, James, David Friedman, general's, Engoron, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel, Leslie Adler Organizations: U.S, Trump Tower, New York, Trump Organization, REUTERS, Daily, First Department, Trump, Republican, Democratic, Thomson Locations: New, New York City, U.S, York, New York

REUTERS/Lindsay DeDario/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 8 (Reuters) - A Georgia grand jury recommended criminal charges against Republican U.S. The six were among 39 people the special grand jury recommended charging in its Dec. 15 report, which had been sealed for nine months. Wood, a conservative lawyer who promoted conspiracy efforts about the election, denied wrongdoing and said he was surprised to find out the special grand jury recommended charges against him. The grand jury voted 20-1 in favor of indicting Trump with respect to the national effort to overturn the election. The special grand jury report remained secret at Willis's request while she determined what charges to bring.

Persons: Donald Trump, Lindsay DeDario, Lindsey Graham, Trump's, Graham, Kelly Loeffler, David Perdue, Michael Flynn, Boris Epshteyn, Lin Wood, Cleta Mitchell, Fani Willis, Willis, Trump, Loeffler, Perdue, Flynn, Epshteyn, Wood, Mitchell, Rudy Giuliani, Brian Kemp, indicting Graham, indicting Trump, Robert McBurney, Andrew Goudsward, Jasper Ward, Sarah N, Lynch, Makini Brice, Joseph Ax, Andy Sullivan, Noeleen Walder, Howard Goller Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Republican U.S, Trump, Trump's, Supreme, Trump loyalists, Democratic, Reuters, Biden, Thomson Locations: Erie , Pennsylvania, U.S, Georgia, South Carolina, Fulton County, Jasper

Salame also pleaded guilty to conspiring to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business. But there was no indication that he was cooperating with the prosecution or would testify against Bankman-Fried at trial. Former Alameda Chief Executive Officer Caroline Ellison, former FTX technology chief Gary Wang and former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh previously pleaded guilty and are expected to testify against Bankman-Fried. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer told prosecutors that if called to testify Salame would invoke his right under the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination.

Persons: Ryan Salame, Sam Bankman, Fried, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Salame, Jason Linder, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, Nishad Singh, Singh, Luc Cohen, Will Dunham, Emelia, Mark Porter Organizations: FTX's, U.S, District, Bankman, Alameda, Porsche, Alameda Research, Prosecutors, Ernst & Young, Circle, FTX Digital, Republican, Democratic, Constitution's, Securities Commission, FTX, New York Times, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, Massachusetts, Salame, Bahamas, Caribbean, Alameda, New York

☆ Ex-FTX executive Salame agrees to plead guilty to US criminal charges, lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Salame appeared before U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan less than one month before Bankman-Fried's scheduled Oct. 3 trial on fraud and conspiracy charges stemming from now-bankrupt FTX's November 2022 collapse. Salame said that he had agreed to forfeit more than $1.5 billion in connection with the plea deal. Salame had worked for Ernst & Young and Circle Internet Financial before joining FTX Digital Markets. Salame was not charged at the time, and his lawyer told prosecutors he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if called to testify. Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ryan Salame, Sam Bankman, Salame, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Fried, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, Nishad Singh, Singh, Luc Cohen, Emelia Sithole, Mark Porter Organizations: FTX's, U.S, District, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, Former Alameda, Bankman, Ernst & Young, Circle, FTX Digital, Republican, Democratic, Securities Commission, FTX, New York Times, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, Bahamas, Caribbean, Alameda, New York

"The United States is also working to ensure that the procedures governing the defendant's return to Malaysia will not unduly delay the service of his U.S. sentence," prosecutors said. Ng's lawyers agreed to the one-month delay, prosecutors said. The case stemmed from about $6.5 billion in bonds that Goldman helped 1MDB sell in 2012 and 2013. Agnifilo said at the hearing that Malaysia wanted Ng's cooperation with an ongoing 1MDB probe. Ng was arrested in Malaysia in Nov. 2018 and agreed to be extradited to the United States three months later.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Margo Brodie, Roger Ng's, Marc Agnifilo, Goldman, 1MDB, Ng, Brodie, Drew Rolle, Agnifilo, Malaysia's, Tim Leissner, Jho, Luc Cohen, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S, Malaysia, United, Thomson Locations: Malaysia, New York, Brooklyn, Kuala Lumpur, United States, U.S

☆ JPMorgan processed more than $1 bln for Epstein, US Virgin Islands says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Aug 31 (Reuters) - A lawyer for the U.S. Virgin Islands said on Thursday that JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N) told U.S. authorities it processed more than $1 billion for Jeffrey Epstein over 16 years. The U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein owned two private islands, is suing JPMorgan for at least $190 million and likely much more, saying it ignored red flags that Epstein was running a sex trafficking operation because he was a lucrative client. JPMorgan has denied knowing that Epstein was running a sex trafficking operation, and has faulted the territory for having a cozy relationship with him. "JPMorgan was a full service bank for Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking," Liu said. Ellsworth also disputed the U.S. Virgin Islands' claim that JPMorgan obstructed investigations into Epstein, saying the bank had asked federal authorities about their own probes into his conduct.

Persons: Caitlin Ochs, U.S . Virgin Islands, JPMorgan Chase, Jeffrey Epstein, Mimi Liu, Epstein, Liu, Jed Rakoff, Jeffrey Epstein's, Felicia Ellsworth, Ellsworth, Rakoff, Rakoff preliminarily, Luc Cohen, Noeleen Walder, Grant McCool Organizations: JPMorgan Chase Bank, REUTERS, U.S . Virgin, JPMorgan, U.S, U.S . Treasury Department, Reuters, Treasury, U.S ., Department, Deutsche Bank, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, U.S . Virgin Islands, Manhattan, New York

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, arrives at court as lawyers push to persuade the judge overseeing his fraud case not to jail him ahead of trial, at a courthouse in New York, U.S., August 11, 2023. Bankman-Fried, 31, has pleaded not guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges stemming from the November 2022 collapse of his now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange. Bankman-Fried's lawyers asked that he be returned to his parents' custody, so he can prepare adequately for trial. Bankman-Fried's lawyers said their client wasn't being given time to sort through the deluge, depriving him of his constitutional right to a fair trial. Danielle Kudla, a prosecutor, said her office had delivered a hard drive with evidence for Bankman-Fried to the MDC earlier on Wednesday.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, FTX, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Palo, Mark Cohen, Danielle Kudla, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, District, Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, Google, Attorney's, MDC, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Manhattan, Brooklyn's, Palo Alto , California, Bahamas, Bankman

☆ FTX's Bankman-Fried appeals judge's decision to jail him pending trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"It is unclear how a cooperating witness who has promised to testify against a defendant could be meaningfully threatened by nothing but their own statements being published by a reputable newspaper," Bankman-Fried's lawyers wrote. His lawyers also said the jail was not allowing Bankman-Fried enough computer time to review evidence and prepare his defense. In her writings, Ellison described feeling "unhappy and overwhelmed" with her job and "hurt/rejected" from her break-up with Bankman-Fried. Prosecutors said Bankman-Fried shared Ellison's writings to harass her, and to dissuade others from testifying if they thought he would make them look bad in the press. Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Nick ZieminskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, Fried, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Adderall, Luc Cohen, Daniel Wallis, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, District, New York Times, FTX's, U.S ., Appeals, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Brooklyn's

Search resuls for: "Luc Cohen"

25 mentions found