Former FTX CEO Ryan Salame is facing the possibility of serious punishment after admitting to making false statements in a 2023 guilty plea related to campaign finance and money laundering charges.
At a hearing held on September 12 in Manhattan, Salame admitted that he provided false information during his plea hearing last year. Salame had previously claimed that federal prosecutors did not promise to secure his guilty plea.
However, Salame later revealed that his lawyer had informed him that the government would drop its investigation into his partner, Michelle Bond, if he agreed to plead guilty. This inconsistency with his previous testimony raised concerns about perjury.
Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan, who oversaw the case, expressed deep disappointment in Salame’s false testimony, noting that it could undermine the validity of the conviction and sentence because it was based on inaccurate information. Kaplan said Salame’s denial of prosecutorial promises could have serious legal consequences, including the possibility of severe punishment.
Judge Kaplan, who sentenced Salame to 90 months in prison for his Vai in the FTX collapse, said it would take time to determine the appropriate next steps. Additionally, Kaplan moved Salame’s appearance date from October 13 to October 11 because the 13th falls on a Sunday.
Salame’s case was further complicated by the indictment of his partner, Michelle Bond, a former U.S. House candidate. Prosecutors allege Salame conspired with Bond to make illegal contributions to her 2022 campaign. Court records show Salame allegedly transferred money from FTX to Bond’s personal bank account, which was then used to fund her political campaign.
Bond was indicted on campaign finance violations in August, just days after Salame’s legal team moved to have his guilty plea dismissed. Salame’s lawyers argued that federal prosecutors had not upheld an agreement to end the investigation into Bond. However, after Bond was indicted, Salame withdrew his plea to have his guilty plea dismissed, saying he no longer intended to pursue the case.
Judge Kaplan said he would take time to XEM further actions, including the possibility of imposing sanctions.
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