TechFlow news — Former co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets, Ryan Salame, has withdrawn his previous request to overturn a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence. The move follows disagreements arising from the U.S. government's investigation into his partner, Michelle Bond. Salame’s lawyers had previously claimed that prosecutors promised not to investigate Bond during plea negotiations, using this as leverage to compel Salame’s guilty plea.
However, Bond was subsequently charged in connection with FTX founder SBF’s scheme to influence the U.S. election system.
Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, accused Bond of illegally accepting campaign contributions from FTX-affiliated parties during the 2022 congressional race. Judge Lewis Kaplan described Salame’s motion as "ambiguous" and "inconsistent," reserving the right to impose sanctions. U.S. prosecutors deny ever reaching an agreement with Salame not to investigate Bond.
Earlier reports indicated that Caroline Ellison, former head of FTX’s sister company Alameda Research, is seeking to avoid prison over her involvement in the fraud.
