Former FTX executive Ryan Salame challenges his guilty plea, claiming the U.S. government reneged on an agreement to stop investigating his partner, Michelle Bond. Salame’s legal team argues for the plea to be set aside or the investigation halted.
Bollywood Fever: Ryan Salame, a former executive at the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has taken legal action to withdraw his guilty plea in federal court, alleging that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan breached a key agreement.
Salame’s legal team argues that prosecutors broke a promise made during plea negotiations by resuming an investigation into his domestic partner, Michelle Bond.
In a recent court filing, Salame’s attorneys claimed that the government had agreed to cease its investigation into Bond, who is also the mother of his eight-month-old child, in exchange for Salame’s guilty plea.
Salame had pleaded guilty to charges related to campaign finance violations and money-transmitting crimes, with his decision heavily influenced by the desire to protect Bond from further legal scrutiny.
However, according to the filing, the government has since reneged on this agreement, resuming its investigation into Bond and even pursuing an indictment against her.
Salame’s legal team has asked the court to either set aside his guilty plea on the grounds of the government’s alleged breach or compel the government to halt any further legal actions against Bond.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not yet commented on the filing, but Salame is scheduled to begin serving a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence on October 13, 2024.
Salame’s attorneys also raised concerns about the propriety of the government’s tactics, suggesting that the pressure to protect Bond may have unduly influenced Salame’s decision to plead guilty.
They argue that the government’s actions could have skewed Salame’s assessment of the risks involved, potentially rendering his plea involuntary.
This, they contend, not only breaches the terms of the plea deal but also raises broader questions about the fairness of the prosecutorial process in Salame’s case.
As Salame’s legal team seeks relief, the case highlights the complexities and potential pitfalls in plea negotiations, particularly when personal relationships and government assurances intersect.
The court’s decision on whether to grant Salame’s request could have significant implications for both his legal fate and the ongoing investigation into Bond.
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