Federal Judge Bars SBF From Contacting FTX And Alameda Employees Via Signal

Sam Bankman-Fried could also be Banned from accessing FTX and Alameda funds as part of his bail conditions, with a Judge scheduled to discuss the matter in a Feb. 7 hearing.

A Federal Judge presiding over the criminal case against former FTX CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried has ordered him not to have any contact with current or former employees of the exchange as part of his bail conditions.

In a Feb. 1 ruling, Judge Lewis Kaplan of the Southern District of New York said Bankman-Fried was to be prevented from communicating with momentum or former employees of FTX or Alameda Research “besides within the sight of counsel” to stay free on bail through his trial. As part of his ruling, Kaplan added that SBF could not contact anybody with encrypted messaging applications like Sign — prosecutors claimed in before filings that the former FTX CEO reached out to Ryne Miller using the app.

The Court has undisputed information regarding the nature and earnestness of the risk presented by [defendant’s continued] release’ on the current conditions has changed substantially since he was released, and there appears to be a material threat of inappropriate contact with prospective observers,” said Kaplan.

The Court finds that the risk is sufficient to warrant additional conditions pending the full contention of the cross-applications.

Sam Bankman-Fried could also be banned from accessing FTX and Alameda funds as part of his bail conditions, with a judge booked to examine the matter in a Feb. 7 hearing.

A federal judge presiding over the criminal case against Sam Bankman-Fried’s former FTX CEO has ordered him not contact with current or former employees of the exchange as part of his bail conditions.

In a Feb. Judge Lewis Kaplan of the Southern District of New York ruled that Bankman-Fried couldn’t communicate with former employees of FTX or Alameda Research.”besides within the sight of counsel” to stay free on bail through his preliminary. As part of his ruling, Kaplan added that SBF could not contact anybody with encrypted messaging applications like Sign — prosecutors claimed in before filings that the former FTX CEO reached out to Ryne Miller using the app.

“The undisputed information accessible to the Court regarding the ‘nature and reality of the risk [. . .] presented by [defendant’s continued] release’ on the current conditions has changed substantially since he was released, and there appears to be a material threat of inappropriate contact with prospective observers,” said Kaplan. The Court finds that the risk is sufficient to warrant additional conditions pending the full contention of the cross-applications.