Ahead of FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s October trial, government prosecutors
have laid out their requests for how the jury should be directed.
United States prosecutors have put forward their proposed instructions to the jury ahead of
the October trial for FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
The lengthy 100-page Aug. 21 filing breaks down how prosecutors would like presiding Judge Lewis
Kaplan to instruct the jury in Bankman-Fried’s case based on previous jury instructions the
New York district judge has given in other cases.
Each of the seven charges Bankman-Fried faces — relating to fraud and money
laundering conspiracy along with wire, commodities and securities fraud — were broken down.
For each charge, prosecutors suggested how Judge Kaplan should present the allegations,
the burden of proof or elements the jury needs to find Bankman-Fried guilty,
and the evidence relating to each charge.
Also included were proposed instructions for detailing how the jury should examine the evidence,
deliberate and come to a conclusion on whether or not to find Bankman-Fried guilty on each count.
Such proposals are typical in criminal trials but ultimately Judge Kaplan will decide how he will instruct the jury.
The former FTX chief has been jailed ahead of his trial set to begin on Oct. 2 and faces another trial in
March 2024 on five other counts — he has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Bankman-Fried is being held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center.
Judge Kaplan revoked his bail on Aug. 11 after prosecutors alleged he leaked diary
entries from former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison to The New York Times.
