Accused fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried appeared set for closure Tuesday at the start of his trial over allegations he stole billions in consumer funds from his FTX cryptocurrency exchange to cover losses at his hedge fund.
The former billionaire, known for years for his unkempt curls and de facto uniform of T-shirt and shorts, sported a carefully coiffed new hairstyle and a gray suit and striped tie as jury selection began in his fraud trial. in Manhattan federal court.
At one point during the proceedings, Bankman-Fried, 31, stood and smiled at potential jurors, as Judge Lewis Kaplan asked if any of them recognized the former crypto golden boy, who is now detained in a Brooklyn jail after his release on bail. the case was overturned.
A prosecutor from U.S. Attorney Damian Williams’ office also revealed that the feds had no meaningful conversations with Bankman-Fried about a potential plea deal, even though the accused mogul faces up to 110 years in prison if convicted of all charges. charges he faces. .
Bankman-Fried had an uncharacteristically neat haircut when he gave his first impression to jurors at his fraud trial.REUTERS
Prosecutors also read aloud a list of potential witnesses in the trial, which is expected to last six weeks, including Bankman-Fried’s father and brother and Anthony Scaramucci, former President Donald Trump’s infamous short-lived spokesman who is also a financier whose fund Skybridge Capital once invested in FTX.
The judge ended the day with a pool of 50 potential jurors, from whom 12 jurors and six alternates will be selected for the trial.
The progress came despite a pair of potential panelists expressing concerns about fairly judging the fallen crypto tycoon based on his negative dealings with the digital currency.
The accused fraudster stood up and turned around during the proceedings so potential jurors could see him.REUTERS
One potential juror, who said she could be impartial, told the court she works for a private equity firm, Insight Partners, that invested in SBF’s Alameda hedge fund, prompting Kaplan to ask if her firm had won or lost money in the deal.
“Lost money,” the woman responded.
Another juror said he had lost a lot of money after investing in cryptocurrencies and that his twin lost so much that he “almost ruined it.”
Bankman-Fried faces up to 110 years in prison if convicted of all fraud and conspiracy charges he faces.REUTERS
It was not immediately clear Tuesday whether those two jurors were dismissed from the group.
Jury selection is expected to conclude the case Wednesday morning, followed by opening statements.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn