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Sam Bankman-Fried pleads not guilty to superseding indictment in first court appearance since jailing

In this file photo, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried arrives for a bail hearing at Manhattan Federal Court on Aug. 11, 2023, in New York City. Federal prosecutors are asking U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan to revoke Bankman-Fried's bail and to be jailed until his October criminal trial. Bankman-Fried who has pleaded not guilty to multiple conspiracy and fraud charges was accused of witness tampering after the New York Times published a story featuring personal documents of Caroline Ellison, former Alameda Research CEO. Judge Kaplan will also hear arguments on the gag order placed on Bankman-Fried that was placed as part of his bail agreement for the alleged witness tampering.   (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images North America/TNS)
By Molly Crane-Newman New York Daily News

NEW YORK — Disgraced crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to revised charges Tuesday, including allegations he pumped $100 million in stolen funds into the U.S. political system to buy influence in Washington.

Bankman-Fried has been in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center for almost two weeks, after a judge revoked his $250 million bond in response to allegations of witness tampering.

At his magistrate court appearance, the 31-year-old pleaded not guilty to seven conspiracy, money laundering, and fraud charges, in the sixth superseding indictment he’s faced since his arrest. He was expected to work on his defense out of the courthouse for the day.

Lawyers for Bankman-Fried said he was having trouble accessing prescription medication while in federal lockup and following a vegan diet.

Prosecutors recently dropped multiple charges against the embattled former billionaire, which had not been agreed to when Bahamian officials handed him off to the feds during his December extradition, per an extradition treaty with the Caribbean government. In the superseding indictment, he is still accused of campaign finance corruption, though it does not feature as a standalone charge.

Judge Lewis Kaplan revoked Bankman-Fried’s staggering bond package after prosecutors accused him of leaking to the media the personal writings of his ex girlfriend and convicted co-conspirator, Caroline Ellison, who’s expected to be the star witness at trial. It was the second time he was accused of witness tampering in the leadup to his trial.