23 August 2023 , 10:11
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A crypto fraudster has moaned that he's only living off "bread and water" in jail - because he's not being provided with the vegan diet he requested.
Sam Bankman-Fried, who has been in a federal jail since August 11 after judge Lewis Kaplan removed his $250m bond, had his lawyer, Mark Cohen, told the court his jail is failing to give him the diet he needs to manage his ADHD, and will impact his ability to participate in his defence case which is due to start in October.
Mr Bankman-Fried, who was formerly nicknamed "The King of Crypto", was led into court wearing leg restraints and a prison uniform during his first court appearance since his bail was revoked.
Mr Cohen said: “Because he’s following his principles, he is literally now subsisting on bread and water." He claimed the suspect's supply of medication to treat depression was also running low.
The Bureau of Prisons said inmates had access to "appropriate" healthcare, medicine and hot meals. They were "reasonably confident" the facility offered vegetarian food, but was not sure whether vegan food was available.
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The fraudster has stuck to a vegan diet (Bloomberg via Getty Images)Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn said she would ask the US Justice Department's Bureau of Prisons, which runs the jail, to look at the issues with Mr Bankman-Fried's medication.
It comes as the judge believes there was probable cause the founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX Mr Bankman-Fried had tried to “tamper with witnesses at least twice” since his December arrest.
He was jailed for sharing the personal writings of his former lover and colleague, Caroline Ellison, with a journalist. Ms Ellison, who is the former chief executive of Mr Bankman-Fried's trading firm Alameda, has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against him. He pleaded not guilty even criminal charges contained in a new indictment.
The crypto fraudster had been staying at his parents’ home in Palo Alto, California, since his December arrest after being extradited for allegedly stealing billions of dollars in FTX customer funds to cover losses at his Alameda Research hedge fund.
FTX, which was once the world's second largest cryptocurrency exchange and valued at $32bn, filed for bankruptcy protection on 11 November. Mr Bankman-Fried said recently that he did not "knowingly" misuse customers' funds and said he would do anything to restore their funds.
He admitted the company got "overconfident and careless" and the lawsuit lists the likes of American footballer Tom Brady, Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka and supermodel Gisele Bundchen as part of a group who say they lost $11billion. He has acknowledged that FTX had inadequate risk management but has denied stealing the funds.