A US judge is questioning the honesty of former FTX executive Ryan Salame’s guilty plea last year. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan believes Salame might have lied during his plea hearing and is considering potential sanctions.
Judge Suspects False Testimony
Kaplan expressed concern that Salame’s guilty plea was based on false statements. He specifically mentioned that Salame claimed he wasn’t promised anything in exchange for his plea, which the judge now believes may not be true.
Salame’s Plea and Sentence
Salame, the former co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets, pleaded guilty to charges related to illegal political contributions and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. He was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison and is scheduled to begin his sentence in October.
Salame’s Claims and the Government’s Response
Salame later claimed that he entered the plea deal to protect his child’s mother, Michelle Bond, from further investigation. Bond, a former Congressional candidate, was subsequently charged with campaign finance violations related to her 2022 campaign.
The government refuted Salame’s claims, stating that they had informed his lawyers that a plea deal wouldn’t stop investigations into Bond.
Judge’s Decision Pending
Judge Kaplan is currently reviewing the situation and will decide on the appropriate course of action. He has not yet specified what sanctions, if any, Salame might face.
