Founder of FTX Denied Vegan Diet and Medication in Federal Custody, Attorney Claims
Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of FTX, has allegedly been deprived of a vegan diet and necessary medication to manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while in federal custody, according to his attorney. During a recent hearing, Mark Cohen, Bankman-Fried’s lawyer, argued that the improper diet and the jail’s failure to provide Adderall, which Bankman-Fried requires to manage his ADHD, will impede his ability to participate in preparing his defense case. Cohen claimed that Bankman-Fried, who has been in federal jail since August 11, is subsisting on bread and water due to his commitment to his principles, and his supply of the medication Emsam, used to treat depression, is running low.
Bankman-Fried’s incarceration came after judge Lewis Kaplan revoked his $250 million bond on August 11. Kaplan concluded that there was probable cause to believe that Bankman-Fried had attempted to tamper with witnesses on at least two occasions since his arrest in December. Previously, Bankman-Fried had primarily stayed at his parents’ home in Palo Alto, California, after being extradited for allegedly embezzling billions of dollars in FTX customer funds to cover losses at his Alameda Research hedge fund.
Federal prosecutors accused Bankman-Fried of crossing a line when he shared personal writings of his former partner, Caroline Ellison, with a New York Times reporter in an attempt to discredit her. Ellison, who is also the chief executive at Bankman-Fried’s company, is expected to testify against him at his trial scheduled for October 2. The defense argued that Bankman-Fried intended to defend his reputation and believed he had the right to speak to the press, while prosecutors claimed he had mischaracterized his intentions.
On August 13, federal prosecutors introduced a new indictment charging Bankman-Fried with seven counts of fraud and conspiracy. They alleged that he had used stolen customer funds to make over $100 million in campaign contributions leading up to the 2022 US midterm elections.
Bankman-Fried’s current conditions in federal custody have become a point of concern regarding his access to proper nutrition and medication necessary for his well-being. The impact of these circumstances on his ability to actively participate in his defense case raises questions about the fairness of his detention. As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how these factors will factor into the overall outcome of the case.
