Sam Bankman-Fried Seeks Dismissal Of Criminal Charges Against Him

In multiple filings made with the Southern District of New York federal court, Bankman-Fried’s lawyers argued that the federal government’s actions against him were “dramatic” and turned “civil and regulatory issues into federal crimes.”

The defense argues that the collapse of FTX was the result of the so-called “crypto winter” of 2022, where the prices of several popular cryptocurrencies nosedived while others outright collapsed.

The filing claims that the initial federal indictment had “vague and non-specific charges,” adding that more counts which were added later contravene the extradition agreement between the U.S. and the Bahamas, where Bankman-Fried was arrested.

In total, the FTX founder’s defense team is seeking the dismissal of 10 of the 13 charges made against him.

The filing also takes aim at FTX’s debtors and CEO John Ray—who is overseeing the bankrupt company’s restructuring—alleging that they have been withholding crucial evidence that may be helpful for the defense while complying with the prosecution’s request for “targeted material that the Government believes will be inculpatory.”