SBF banned from using online messengers under new bail agreement
The story of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried continues to unfold as lawyers and the court continue to argue about SBF’s bail conditions.
SBF lawyers have reportedly reached a new bail agreement with the United States prosecutors, allowing him to stay at home while restricting the use of some electronic devices and apps.
According to a report by Reuters, the lawyers reached the new agreement on March 27 after a judge brought up the need to send SBF to jail pending trial. The new bail conditions are yet to be approved by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is overseeing Bankman-Fried's case.
Under some of the proposed new conditions, Bankman-Fried will be reportedly prohibited from using a smartphone with internet access as well as any apps other than voice calls and text messaging. The agreement would also require SBF to use a basic laptop with limited functions and monitoring software to track user activity. The use of any other electronic communication devices is forbidden.
In a letter on Monday, SBF’s parents reportedly agreed to restrict his access to their devices, while also signing sworn affidavits to not bring prohibited electronic devices into their home. In case of a “reasonable suspicion” of a violation, SBF must submit his devices for a search.
The new agreement comes a few weeks after Judge Kaplan attempted to ban SBF from using any electronic devices and the internet as a condition of his bail. The judge argued that SBF had a “garden of electronic devices” with access to the internet available at Joe Bankman and Barbara Fried’s California home. Judge Kaplan also argued that there was “probable cause” to believe that SBF was involved in attempted witness tampering.
In early March, Kaplan reportedly expressed
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