Sam Bankman-Friedthe jailed founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, signed documents on December 20 that will soon be handed over to FBI agents and taken to the United States to face criminal charges.
The measure was to be expected, since Bankman-Fried agreed in principle on December 19 to be extradited to the US, despite previous reports indicating that he wanted to see the indictment against him first.
ABC News reported that Bankman-Fried signed the extradition papers on December 20, citing acting Bahamas commissioner of prisons Doan Cleare.
A Bloomberg report on Dec. 20 quoted Cleare as saying the exchange founder signed the surrender documents on Dec. 20, and was scheduled to sign another set of documents on the 21st renouncing his rights to fight extradition.which could mean that that same day he would board a flight to the United States.
Cointelegraph contacted the office of the acting commissioner for confirmation, but did not receive an immediate response.
After signing the final document, Bankman-Fried is expected to be taken by FBI agents to a private airport and in transit to the US on a private flight, where he faces eight counts in an indictment from the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York..
The New York Times reported on December 20 that Bankman-Fried’s legal team is in talks with federal prosecutors to allow his release on bail when he is extradited to the United States.
The deal would require approval from the federal judge overseeing the SBF case and could include “very restrictive conditions” such as house arrest and electronic surveillance.according to people with knowledge of the matter.
He faces charges from the Department of Justice related to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money launderingconspiracy to commit wire, property and securities fraud, and campaign finance violations.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 115 years in prison if convicted on all counts..
The FTX founder faces other charges from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly violating property laws and defrauding investors.
SBF is not in the hospital
On the other hand, An Instagram post by local news outlet Bahamas Press circulated on social media on December 20 stating that Bankman-Fried was being “rushed” to hospital from jail, but was denied shortly thereafter..
New York Times financial reporter Rob Copeland tweeted that he spoke to the prison warden, who said the exchange founder was having lunch in the medical bay and the rumor was false..
There are reports that @SBF_FTX he was rushed from his Bahamian prison to the hospital.
These are false, the head of the prison tells me. As a few moments ago, Sam was eating lunch. He is still there in the medical bay where he has been held in a single room with four roommates.
—Rob Copeland (@realrobcopeland) December 20, 2022
There are reports that @SBF_FTX was rushed from his prison in the Bahamas to the hospital. These are fake, the prison chief tells me. A few moments ago, Sam was having lunch. He is still there in the medical bay where he has been confined to a single room with four roommates.
Bahamas Press then published an update saying its sources were reporting the claim to be false..
Update (December 21, 1:25 AM UTC): Added information from a Bloomberg report that Bankman-Fried will travel to the US on December 21.
Update (Dec 21, 2:48 AM UTC): Added a NYT report suggesting that Bankman-Fried is discussing being released on bail upon arrival in the United States.
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