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Sam Bankman-Fried took the witness stand on Thursday after days of testimony from his inner circle. The FTX cofounder is facing seven charges of fraud over the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange. AdvertisementAdvertisementSam Bankman-Fried took the witness stand Thursday to testify in his own defense in the criminal trial involving FTX's collapse. After briefly describing the "constant" threat of attempts to hack FTX, Bankman-Fried got into the company's document retention policy, which he said he abided by "to my knowledge." The FTX cofounder is facing seven criminal charges and has pleaded not guilty on all counts.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, —, Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Mark Cohen, Gary Wang, Caroline Ellison, Wang, FTX, Ellison, she'd Organizations: Service, FTX, Alameda Research, Alameda Locations: Alameda

☆ Judge blasts Sam Bankman-Fried for 'interesting' answers on the witness stand to questions about using FTX customer funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Katie Balevic | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementAdvertisement"Part of the problem is that the witness has what I'll simply call an interesting way of responding to questions," Kaplan said during the hearing. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen Sassoon asked Bankman-Fried directly if he discussed spending FTX customer deposits with his lawyers, he took a long pause and looked down before he answered the question. Sassoon, questioning Bankman-Fried on the witness stand, asked Bankman-Fried to be more explicit about why he thought that explanation was acceptable. Asked directly by Sassoon if it was OK to steal customer funds, Bankman-Fried rejected that interpretation of events. Sassoon made that clear on Thursday as Kaplan asked for a broad timeline of the rest of the trial.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, —, Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Mark Cohen, Danielle Sassoon, Sassoon, Bankman, Chelsea Jia Feng, I'm, Cohen, grumbled, Barbara Fried, " Cohen Organizations: Service, Alameda Research Locations: Manhattan, FTX, Alameda

watch nowLawyers for Sam Bankman-Fried late Wednesday revealed details of his planned testimony if he takes the witness stand at his FTX fraud trial. Earlier Wednesday, one of Bankman-Fried's two chief trial attorneys, Mark Cohen, said in a conference call that his client would testify as would three other people. Cohen cited specific examples where, at the guidance of FTX lawyers, Bankman-Fried adopted a policy which prosecutors argued shows his criminality. But Cohen wrote that Bankman-Fried's understanding was that these auto-deletion policies were "instituted under the guidances of lawyers." "We respectfully submit that Mr. Bankman-Fried's knowledge of industry practices regarding the use of omnibus wallets is relevant to his good faith belief that his conduct was permissible," the letter added.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Mark Cohen, Cohen, Fried, Caroline Ellison, Bankman, SBF, Gary Wang, Adam Yedidia, Wang, FTX, Sun Organizations: Bahamian, Stanford, Alameda Research, Prosecutors, Bankman, Bahamas Securities Commission, Securities Commission, The Locations: Manhattan, FTX, Alameda, Bahamian, The Bahamas, United States

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's defense team fails to land a blow as he takes the stand
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Sam Bankman-Fried took the stand in a New York courtroom on Thursday, as he and his defense team auditioned their best legal material for U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan. Bankman-Fried, the son of two Stanford legal scholars, has pleaded not guilty in the case. Several of these witnesses have themselves pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including Bankman-Fried's ex-girlfriend Caroline Ellison, who faces a maximum sentence of 110 years for crimes committed while she was the CEO of Alameda. Given that the core issue will be intent to defraud, SBF should be portraying himself as clueless, inattentive, and in over his head. But for years he had portrayed himself as a visionary genius, and I don't expect that to change on the stand," he said.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Fried's, Mark Cohen, Dan Friedberg, SBF, Renato Mariotti, Bryan Cave Leighton, Caroline Ellison Organizations: U.S, District, Stanford, U.S . Justice Department's Securities, Commodities, Alameda Research, Prosecutors Locations: New York, Manhattan, Chicago, Alameda

Sam Bankman-Fried will take the stand in his criminal trial, his lawyer said. AdvertisementAdvertisementSam Bankman-Fried plans to take the witness stand to testify in his own defense in the criminal fraud trial over FTX's collapse, according to his attorney Mark Cohen. In a hearing in federal court in downtown Manhattan Wednesday, Cohen said he would call three witnesses in Bankman-Fried's defense case, and then Bankman-Fried himself would testify. Prosecutors said they would bring two more witnesses before resting, turning things over to Bankman-Fried's lawyers to make their defense case. Earlier in the trial, Bankman-Fried's attorneys appeared to go back and forth on whether the FTX cofounder would take the stand.

Persons: Sam Bankman, —, Fried, Mark Cohen, Cohen, Prosecutors, Bankman, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Eric Chaffee, Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Richard Painter, George W, Bush, Painter Organizations: Service, Prosecutors, Case Western Reserve University, University of Minnesota, White House Locations: Manhattan, Bankman, FTX

Indicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves the United States Courthouse in New York City, U.S., July 26, 2023. Elizabeth Holmes took the stand at her criminal trial, testifying over several days that she did not intend to defraud investors in her blood-testing startup, Theranos. For Bankman-Fried to be convicted of fraud, prosecutors must show beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to defraud FTX customers or investors. Taking the stand carries the risk that he will be confronted with those media appearances as well as his use of social media. But Bankman-Fried has a lower-than-average fear of risk, according to trial testimony.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Amr Alfiky, Willkie Farr, Gallagher, Ilene Jaroslaw, Elizabeth Holmes, Holmes, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Mike Schachter, Schachter, Tom Barrack, Donald Trump, Jean Boustani, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Bankman, Jody Godoy, Tom Hals, Noeleen Walder, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United, REUTERS, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Detention, U.S, District, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Alameda, Lebanese, Brooklyn's, New York

☆ US Court Challenges Trump Appeal in Rape Accuser E. Jean Carroll's Case
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan challenged Trump's lawyer Michael Madaio during oral arguments in Trump's appeals of pivotal rulings by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan. Carroll's lawyer Joshua Matz rejected any suggestion that Trump could not waive absolute immunity because "broader structural considerations" were at play. "A party who believes that they are holding onto absolute immunity from suit does not behave the way that Mr. Trump behaved it his case." The appeals court did not say when it will rule. The appeals court could order Trump to pay damages and costs if it ends up agreeing with the judge.

Persons: Jonathan Stempel, Donald Trump, E, Jean Carroll, Michael Madaio, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Madaio, Carroll, Trump, Kaplan, Denny Chin, Chin, Judge Kaplan, Joshua Matz, Matz, Joe Biden, Letitia James, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Circuit, District, Elle, Trump, CNN, Republican, Democratic, New York Locations: Manhattan, midtown Manhattan, New York

Prosecutors in the criminal trial against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried compared one of the defense's arguments to a scene in the 1994 film "Dumb and Dumber," in which actor Jim Carrey says IOUs are "as good as money." Funds also allegedly went to paying for things such as a $35 million property in the Bahamas and political donations. Customers were ultimately unable to retrieve much of their money as FTX and Alameda were simultaneously imploding. In a footnote, the prosecution writes, "A popular movie from the 1990s illustrates the point: a briefcase, once filled with money, is not the same as a briefcase later filled with IOUs." In "Dumb and Dumber," when the briefcase reaches its owner, it's filled with paper.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Jim Carrey, IOUs, Judge Lewis Kaplan, who's, Carrey, Jeff Daniels, transact, Lloyd Christmas Organizations: Prosecutors, FTX, Manhattan, Southern, of, York, Alameda Research Locations: Manhattan, New York City, Colorado, Bahamas, Alameda

☆ Will Sam Bankman-Fried take the witness stand? It would be dangerous — but he has little to lose.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Sam Bankman-Fried needs to decide soon whether he'll take the witness stand in his criminal trial. AdvertisementAdvertisementCaroline Ellison testified in the trial of her ex-boyfriend, Sam Bankman-Fried JANE ROSENBERGFor that reason, the case against Bankman-Fried rests on the credibility of his alleged co-conspirators. In their own questioning of the cooperating witnesses, prosecutors have encouraged them to be open about taking responsibility for their crimes. Court sketch of Sam Bankman-Fried on the first day of his trial JANE ROSENBERG/ReutersIf Bankman-Fried takes the stand, he'll be cross-examined by prosecutors. If Bankman-Fried takes the stand, prosecutors will almost certainly point to more material and catch him in any contradictions.

Persons: Sam Bankman, he'll, he's, —, They're, Fried, Mark Cohen, Lewis Kaplan, who's, Cohen, He's, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, Nashad Singh, Sarah Krissoff, Cozen O'Connor, FTX, Mary Altaffer, Kaplan, Paul Tuchmann, Wiggin, Dana, Tuchmann, Adam Yedidia, Fried JANE ROSENBERG, Ellison, Wang, Singh, Bankman, Wang forthrightly, Ellison teared, slovenliness, Prosecutors —, Krissoff, JANE ROSENBERG, hedged, didn't, Judge Kaplan's, SBF Organizations: Service, Defense, US, Alameda Research, Former Alameda Research, AP, Prosecutors, Toyota Corolla, Reuters, ABC News, Alameda . Locations: Manhattan, Alameda, New York, FTX

☆ Judge in Sam Bankman-Fried trial reams out lawyers for having witnesses 'hauled up here' from across the country without much to say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Attorneys in Sam Bankman-Fried's Manhattan trial were chewed out by the judge on Wednesday. Judge Lewis Kaplan lost his patience over two witnesses who gave useless testimony. Kaplan was particularly frustrated that one of the witnesses had traveled from Texas to participate. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Kaplan's complaints aside, Wednesday was an otherwise efficient trial day, with four witnesses taking the stand in total.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, —, Lewis Kaplan, it's, Bankman, Fried, Eliora Katz, Katz, Cory Gaddis, Gaddis, Peter Easton, University of Notre Dame, Shamel Medrano Organizations: Service, Prosecutors, FTX, Google, University of Notre, US Attorney's Locations: Manhattan, Texas, New York

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried directed political donations despite $13 bln 'hole', ex-colleague testified
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | 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

Singh said another FTX executive had told him the deals were meant to help spur user growth. 'I WAS A STRAW DONOR'Bankman-Fried's trial, which started on Oct. 3, has so far focused largely on how prosecutors say Bankman-Fried allowed Alameda to plunder FTX customer funds. Singh gave jurors a window into Bankman-Fried's political operation. He said another FTX executive, Ryan Salame, had access to his bank account to make donations via wire transfers. "I knew that the money for those donations was coming from customer funds."

Persons: Sam Bankman, Andrew Kelly, Fried, Nishad Singh, Bankman, Singh, Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen, Steph Curry, Larry David, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Michael Kives, Hillary Clinton, FTX, Gary Wang, Caroline Ellison, Alameda's, Gabriel, Gabriel Bankman, Ryan Salame, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Luc Cohen, Matthew Lewis, Stephen Coates Organizations: FTX, Manhattan, REUTERS, Alameda Research, U.S, Democratic, Prosecutors, Alameda, Miami Heat's, District, Monday, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Alameda, Fried, . U.S, New York

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried jury sees photo of FTX founder with Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | 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: +4 min

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Champion Trust Llc FollowNEW York, Oct 16 - The jury at Sam Bankman-Fried's fraud trial on Monday saw a photograph of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange founder with singer Katy Perry and actor Orlando Bloom at the 2022 NFL Super Bowl. Singh is the third former member of Bankman-Fried's inner circle to testify at the trial, which started on Oct. 3. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud and five counts of conspiracy tied to FTX's November 2022 collapse. Singh said another FTX executive had told him the deals were meant to help spur user growth. Since his trial, Bankman-Fried has been seen during testimony typing on a laptop and whispering to his lawyers.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Andrew Kelly, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Prosecutors, Nishad Singh, FTX's, Singh, Gary Wang, Caroline Ellison, Alameda's, Fried, Perry, Michael Kives, Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen, Steph Curry, Larry David, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Luc Cohen, Nick Zieminski Organizations: FTX, Manhattan, REUTERS, Bowl, Alameda, Miami Heat's, District, Bankman, Prosecutors, New York Times, Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Los Angeles, Brooklyn's, New York

☆ Bankman-Fried needs Adderall to testify, defense requests delay in trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"Bankman-Fried has been doing his best to remain focused during the trial for the past two weeks, despite not having his prescribed dose of Adderall during trial hours," continues the letter to the court. "Mr. Bankman-Fried has a history of Major Depressive Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder," Lerner wrote. Lerner added in his letter that Bankman-Fried had tried other antidepressants but said they were ineffective for his symptoms. Without his medication, Lerner warned the judge, "Bankman-Fried will experience a return of his depression and ADHD symptoms and will be severely negatively impacted in his ability to assist in his own defense." For nearly a year, there's been a nationwide shortage of Adderall, the popular stimulant used to treat ADHD.

Persons: Sam Bankman, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Fried, Mark Cohen's, Judge Kaplan, Cohen, Bankman, Caroline Ellison, meds, George Lerner, Lerner, there's Organizations: U.S, District, Government, U.S . Food, Drug Administration Locations: Bahamas, U.S

☆ Prosecutors say Sam Bankman-Fried got shady doctor to prescribe Adderall as judge denies greater access to pills during trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Katie Balevic | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sam Bankman-Fried's defense attorneys say he doesn't have enough Adderall. Before the trial began, they had written to the judge asking for "uninterrupted access" to the drug. AdvertisementAdvertisementProsecutors in Sam Bankman-Fried's trial raise concerns about the former cryptocurrency mogul's repeated requests for more Adderall during his criminal trial, claiming in court Monday that his doctor "has engaged in some suspect practices." AdvertisementAdvertisementBut, as Bankman-Fried's attorneys revisited their medicinal complaint in court on Monday, the prosecution accused them of using a sham doctor who overprescribes to patients. When Bankman-Fried's lawyers suggested stopping the trial until then, Kaplan refused.

Persons: Sam Bankman, SBF, —, mogul's, Danielle Sassoon, Lewis Kaplan, overprescribes, Sassoon, Mark Cohen, Fried, Cohen, Kaplan, hasn't Organizations: Service, US, Bureau of Prisons, Metropolitan Detention Center, Marshalls, Federal Bureau of Prisons Locations: Brooklyn

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's lawyers say he needs more Adderall to concentrate in court
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

SBF's lawyers are petitioning the court to grant him access to more Adderall during his trial. AdvertisementAdvertisementSam Bankman-Fried's lawyers say the embattled FTX founder needs more Adderall so he can concentrate during his ongoing criminal trial. The lawyers wrote that Bankman-Fried had only been given a dose of Adderall in the early mornings before he arrived at court for his criminal trial. Bankman-Fried's legal team proposed in the letter that their client be given an extended-release dose of Adderall before he is taken to court on Monday. The criminal trial against the disgraced crypto entrepreneur began on October 3.

Persons: wouldn't, —, Sam Bankman, Fried, Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Mark Cohen, Bankman Organizations: Service, The New Yorker, Bankman, Metropolitan Detention, Prosecutors, Alameda Research Locations: Brooklyn, Alameda

☆ Secret audio, a star witness, and ‘Thai prostitutes’ complicate Sam Bankman-Fried’s defense
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

‘The ultimate insider’Caroline Ellison offered crucial testimony this week against her former boss and ex-boyfriend, Sam Bankman-Fried. Like Bankman-Fried, Ellison faces the prospect of 110 years in prison if given a maximum sentence. Bankman-Fried’s defense team cross-examined Ellison for about six hours on Thursday in a meandering, halting back-and-forth that repeatedly prompted objections from the prosecution. The secret audio recordingCaroline Ellison, former chief executive of Alameda Research, leaves federal court in Manhattan on Thursday. Statements like the ones Ellison made in the recording are known as “prior consistent statements of a witness,” Estes said.

Persons: Sam Bankman, He’s, Caroline Ellison, Fried, Jane Rosenberg, —, ”, Jordan Estes, Kramer Levin, “, SBF’s, Ellison, Gary Wang, FTX, Sam, Judge Lewis Kaplan, Mark Cohen, Stephanie Keith, Christian Drappi, “ Sam’s, ” Estes, they’ve, ’, What’s, Estes, that’s, Mary, ” Prosecutors, there’s, ’ ” Estes, you’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, Alameda Research, Reuters, US Attorney’s, Bloomberg, Getty, Alameda, Christian, ”, CNN Locations: New York, Alameda, Bahamas, Manhattan, Hong Kong, China

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's defense lawyer gave a snooze-worthy cross-examination of key witness Caroline Ellison in criminal trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Katie Balevic | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Their cross of Caroline Ellison, arguably the biggest witness in the case, was noticeably repetitive. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Ex-girlfriend and ex-Alameda-CEO Caroline Ellison returned to the witness stand in Manhattan federal court on Thursday for a cross-examination frequently interrupted with objections and sidebars. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe former CEO of FTX's sister company Alameda Research, Ellison pleaded guilty to seven financial fraud and conspiracy charges in December.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Caroline Ellison, —, Mark Cohen, quizzing Ellison, Ellison, Cohen, Fried, Bankman, Lewis Kaplan, Danielle Sassoon Organizations: Service, Alameda, Alameda Research, FBI Locations: Manhattan, Alameda, FTX, Bahamas

☆ SBF’s Behavior in Court Gets Called Out
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Caroline Ellison is questioned in court as Sam Bankman-Fried watches during his fraud trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)In a sidebar during the trial Wednesday, a federal prosecutor complained about Sam Bankman-Fried's behavior during Caroline Ellison's testimony, saying it might have a visible effect on her. "The defendant has laughed, visibly shaken his head, and scoffed," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon. The prosecutor added that he had a history of intimidating Ellison, who dated Bankman-Fried on and off over two years.

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, Fried, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Jane Rosenberg, Caroline Ellison's, Danielle Sassoon, Ellison Organizations: U.S, District

Sam Bankman-Fried laughed and shook his head during Caroline Ellison's testimony, prosecutor claims. The prosecutor asked Bankman-Fried's lawyer to tell his client to control his reactions. Ellison gave emotional testimony Wednesday and appeared to place the blame for FTX's collapse on SBF. AdvertisementAdvertisementCaroline Ellison's testimony provoked a series of reactions from her ex-boyfriend Sam Bankman-Fried on Wednesday, a prosecutor said during a sidebar conversation. Prosecutor Danielle Sassoon told the judge in Bankman-Fried's criminal trial that the FTX cofounder had "laughed, visibly shaken his head, and scoffed" while Ellison testified.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Caroline Ellison's, Bankman, Ellison, —, Danielle Sassoon, Judge Lewis Kaplan, Mark Cohen, " Sassoon, Cohen, Lewis, he'd, he's Organizations: Service, Alameda Research Locations: Bankman, Manhattan

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried trial: scenes from Caroline Ellison's time on the stand
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | 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

Ellison wore a gray blazer and carried a Poland Spring water bottle to and from the witness stand. She did not look at Bankman-Fried in any of the instances when she passed him at the defense table. Bankman-Fried spent much of Ellison's testimony typing on a laptop or whispering to his defense lawyers. Three of the jurors appeared to close their eyes at times as Sassoon quizzed Ellison about spreadsheets showing Alameda's assets and liabilities. Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, Ellison, District Judge Lewis Kaplan's, Fried, Kaplan, Joseph Bankman, Barbara Fried, Danielle Sassoon, Sassoon quizzed Ellison, We'll, " Sassoon, Luc Cohen, Noeleen Walder, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Alameda, Federal Court, Reuters, Alameda Research, District, The Stanford University, Stanford Law, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Alameda, New York

☆ Caroline Ellison says she wasn't an ambitious person until she met Sam Bankman-Fried
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Caroline Ellison, former chief executive officer of Alameda Research LLC, arrives to court in New York, US, on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Ellison, ex-girlfriend of FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried, outlined for a New York jury Wednesday how she worked with Sam Bankman-Fried to deceive lenders and customers to build his multi-billion dollar cryptocurrency empire, and their failed attempts to prevent a spectacular collapse. She pleaded guilty in December to two counts of wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. By 2021, she testified, Bankman-Fried had largely stopped coming into the Alameda office and had left more of the job to Ellison. Ellison also testified that Bankman-Fried had discussed adding a new co-CEO when Trabucco left, but she resisted.

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Ellison, FTX, Sam Bankman, Stephanie Keith, Mark Cohen, Lewis Kaplan, Cohen, Sam Trabucco, Alameda's, Trabucco, Fried, Ryan Salame, Ellison's Organizations: Alameda Research, New, Bloomberg, Getty, FTX Locations: New York, Manhattan, Alameda

Eventually, according to Ellison, Bankman-Fried chose the one that omitted a line saying "FTX borrows," hiding $10 billion in borrowed customer money. When asked by Sassoon why she continued with the scheme, Ellison said, "Sam told me to." She said Bankman-Fried told her she should have hedged and, "speaking loudly and strongly," said it was her fault. CEO Sam Bankman-Fried Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesEllison then went into her own emotional state. After all the movement of FTX money, the company only had $4 billion to cover $12 billion in customer holdings, she said.

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Yuki Iwamura, Sam Bankman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ellison, Fried, Danielle Sassoon, Genesis, Gary Wang, Nishad Singh, Bankman, FTX, Mark Cohen, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Jane Rosenberg, Sassoon, Sam, Mohammed bin Salman, Jane Street, Slack, she'd, who'd, sloppily Organizations: Alameda Research, Bloomberg, Getty, Saudi Crown, U.S, District, Federal Court, Reuters, Stanford, Bankman, Wall, Alameda, New York Times, MBS, Vox, Forbes, Twitter, Toyota Corolla, Fried Bloomberg Locations: New York, Bankman, Alameda, FTX, New York City, U.S, San Francisco Bay, Saudi, Japan

☆ Caroline Ellison believed Sam Bankman-Fried directed $100 million bribe to Chinese officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Caroline Ellison testified that Sam Bankman-Fried paid millions in bribes to Chinese officials. AdvertisementAdvertisementCaroline Ellison testified at Sam Bankman-Fried's criminal trial Wednesday that she believed the disgraced crypto mogul paid "in the ballpark of $100 million" in bribes to Chinese government officials. When Alameda paid what I believe was a large bribe to Chinese government officials to get our accounts unlocked," Ellison said. AdvertisementAdvertisement"My impression is that they were unfrozen by paying a bribe," Ellison testified Wednesday. In it, Ellison listed "$150 million for the thing" among other big events for Alameda Research in 2021.

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, Fried, Ellison, —, Danielle Sassoon, David Ma, Ma, commingling, Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan Organizations: Service, Alameda Research, Alameda, Prosecutors, Bankman Locations: Alameda, China, Manhattan, California

Ellison said the hedge fund, Alameda Research, took about $10 billion in FTX customer funds to repay its debts and make investments. Gary Wang, FTX's former technology chief, testified that Bankman-Fried falsely tweeted that FTX was "fine" in November as the exchange faced surging demand for withdrawals. Bankman-Fried left in 2017 to found Alameda, and Ellison followed when he offered her a job as a trader. "He was very ambitious," Ellison told the court. In testimony that could undermine that argument, Ellison said she always consulted Bankman-Fried on big decisions and always deferred to him.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, FTX, Fried, Mark Cohen, Gary Wang, Nishad Singh, Bankman, Jane, Joe Biden's, Cohen, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Luc Cohen, Jody Godoy, Noeleen Walder, Nick Zieminski, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Alameda Research, Manhattan U.S, Prosecutors, Alameda, Bankman, Wall, Ellison, New York Times, Times, District, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Alameda, FTX

In the memo, Bankman-Fried called Alameda's failure to hedge its bets a "mistake." When Everdell asked if the decision not to hedge was Ellison's, Wang replied that she was Alameda's CEO at the time. Prosecutors said last week they planned to call Ellison to take the stand once Wang finishes his testimony. She was seen entering the courthouse on Tuesday morning wearing a blue baseball cap and sunglasses, and carrying a blue thermos. A third former member of Bankman-Fried's inner circle, ex-FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh, is also expected to testify at trial.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, Caroline Ellison, Christian Everdell's, Gary Wang, Everdell, Wang, Ellison, Prosecutors, Fried, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Nishad Singh, FTX, Christian Everdell, Mark Cohen, Luc Cohen, Jody Godoy, Noeleen Walder, Matthew Lewis, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, Alameda Research, New York Times, U.S, District, Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, Bankman, Alameda, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Manhattan, Brooklyn's, Alameda, Washington ,

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