Wrap-Up of the Prosecution’s Case
After more than three weeks filled with riveting courtroom drama, the attorneys from the United States Justice Department wrapped up their case against Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried. Imagine a marinating piece of steak—only in this case, it’s SBF on trial, with all the juicy details slowly being revealed.
The Last Witness and the Dismissal Debate
The final blow in the prosecution’s narrative came from a rather serious gentleman, FBI Agent Mark Troiano. He held the court’s attention as he unraveled the cryptic web of SBF’s communication habits, confirming his involvement in over 300 Signal groups. Yes, folks, over 300! That’s more than many of us can handle in our social lives.
And just like that, the defense attorneys, Mark Cohen and Christian Everdell, leaped in, hoping to dismiss the case. Judge Lewis Kaplan, however, wasn’t having it. His swift denial was like a referee blowing the whistle just as someone makes a last-minute shot in basketball—sorry, no early exits here.
The Defense Steps Up
Things took a turn when the defense brought in its own witnesses. First up was Krystal Rolle, a lawyer from the Bahamas who had previously represented SBF. She spoke of an encounter with regulators, like being dragged into the principal’s office but without the accompanying dread. The big revelation? She witnessed him turning over FTX assets—a surprising show of compliance.
Next came Joseph Pimbley, who, for a cool $50,000, extracted data from Amazon Web Services, bringing more numbers to the courtroom than an accountant at tax season. His testimony stirred up questions like whether he had any idea about FTX’s use of funds or the infamous “allow negative” button. No, this isn’t a new dance move; it’s the feature that allowed Alameda to trade on borrowed time—literally.
Judge Kaplan’s Intervention
Throughout the trial, Judge Kaplan’s patience wore thin at times. According to courtroom whispers, he frequently interjected with phrases like, “This is not helpful” and “Can we get to the point?” Picture a parent trying to shoo away the incessant ramble of a child in a restaurant—it’s entertaining but tiresome.
The Road Ahead
As the trial races toward its conclusion, Bankman-Fried has yet to take the stand, which leaves everyone on the edge of their seats. His lawyers plan to let him loose for a four-hour recount of events, an epic test of endurance akin to running a marathon without training.
This trial might be nearing the finish line, but don’t forget, SBF faces five additional criminal counts in a second trial that kicks off in March 2024. He remains steadfastly not guilty—an oath stickier than peanut butter on the roof of your mouth.
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