As the court trial of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) continues into its second week, Caroline Ellison is set to testify against her one-time lover and former colleague. Her testimony may potentially be a game-changer in the court case.
On October 10, the former Alameda Research CEO and former romantic partner of SBF will take the stand, testifying under oath about the financial relationship between the defunct FTX exchange and Alameda Research.
Even before she was scheduled to testify, Ellison had been an important point in the trial given her history with Bankman-Fried and her previous role at the firm.
Ellison’s testimony could be a potential game-changer
While attorneys intend to use Ellison’s testimony to expose potential fraudulent dealings between both firms, SBF lawyers plan to paint her in a negative way highlighting her observed lack of business expertise considering their now ended romantic involvement.
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A close colleague of Sam Bandkan-Fried and a former FTX developer, Adam Yedidia, had previously testified pointing out the relationship between Caroline Ellison and the embattled CEO Bankman-Fried. The relationship began in early 2019.
This is particularly an important point as their personal relationship could have potentially influenced companies’ decisions. In 2022, Ellison had already released a statement that teased the depth of her expected testimony.
It indicated SBF’s alleged role in a scheme that defrauded a cumulative $10 billion from clients. Following the collapse of the FTX exchange in November 2022, Ellison secured a plea deal. She further admitted her role in mishandling funds by saying she agreed with SBF to present misleading financial reports to Alameda lenders.
While Sam Bankman-Fried’s defense team blames Ellison for FTX and Alameda’s collapse, citing dubious business decisions, they also highlighted that, despite the crypto market’s vulnerability, Ellison failed to implement preventative measures recommended by Bankman-Fried in early 2022.
Alameda withdrew unlimited funds
Co-founder and former CTO of FTX, Gary Wang, testified on day 3 of the trial, October 5. During his testimony, he admitted to committing crimes relating to fraud alongside SBF, Nishad Singh, and Caroline Ellison.
According to him, Alameda was allowed to withdraw “unlimited funds.” Wang added that while he stuck to coding, SBF was responsible for speaking to the media, lobbying, and talking with investors.
Even though Bankman-Fried has maintained that he is innocent, he is faced with seven serious conspiracy and fraud charges that could keep him locked away for years if found guilty.
We will continue following the story and keep you updated about today’s proceedings. Stay tuned.
Read More:
- FTX, Alameda Research, and the SBF Trial So Far: What Lies Beneath the Surface
- SBF Court Trial: Former FTX CTO Admits to Committing Crimes Alongside Bankman-Fried
- Inside Sam Bankman-Fried’s (SBF) Legal Battle: All You Need to Know
- FTX Founder SBF Planned to Bribe Donald Trump to Stop Presidential Run: Reports
Victor Swaezy
Victor Swaezy is a crypto-journalist with more than 3 years of experience in covering blockchain technology and digital currencies news. Known for his comprehensive reporting, Victor has contributed to leading industry publications such as Coinfomania and Crypto News Guru, providing market participants with the required knowledge to make informed decisions. When he is not working, he loves to watch movies and have a good time.