Prosecutors handling the criminal case against former FTX chief executive Sam Bankman-Fried have asked for more time to investigate the potential legal ramifications of Bankman-Fried’s use of virtual private networks, sometimes known as VPNs.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, said in a document that was filed on February 13 with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York that the Justice Department had found that Bankman-Fried had accessed did. Internet on January 29 and February 12, the latter date being the day of Super Bowl LVII. Williams claims that the government’s position was that the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) “raises a number of potential concerns.” He cites the example of users based in the United States accessing some international crypto exchanges, as well as obfuscating data from websites Bankman-Fried visited.
The petition stated that using a virtual private network (VPN) “allows data transfer without a secure, encrypted connection.” [and] There is a more secure and incognito way of accessing the dark web. In talks with the government about the problem,”
Mark Cohen, an attorney with the firm Cohen & Gresser who is defending SBF in the criminal action, claims that the former CEO of FTX used a VPN to watch sporting events, including the Super Bowl. He further said that until the dispute between the lawyers is settled, Bankman-Fried will not use the Virtual Private Network (VPN).
“He watched the AFC Championship game on January 29, 2023, as well as the NFC Championship game, then he watched the Super Bowl on February 12, 2023. This use of a virtual private network does not give rise to any of the concerns expressed by the government in its in the letter
According to court filings, the team at Bankman-Legal Fried was reportedly considering whether the former FTX CEO’s use of a virtual private network (VPN) could be added as a condition of his release. Since SBF was arrested, prosecutors have already requested that the court ban Bankman-Fried’s use of specific messaging applications and order her to stop contacting current or former employees of FTX and Alameda Research. Bankman-Fried’s lawyers and US prosecutors have asked for more time until February 17 to explore the possible implications of the SBF using virtual private networks (VPNs) for his bail conditions.
The criminal trial against Bankman-Fried is set to begin in October, and she could face up to eight charges related to wire fraud and violations of rules governing campaign money. Civil lawsuits facing SBF from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission will be put on hold until the end of the criminal case, according to a court ruling on February 13.
