The laptop computer of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried holds a lot information that the FBI is struggling to investigate it, in line with studies from Enterprise Insider on March 30.
Prosecutors overburdened by laptop computer information
The FBI is having issue with the laptop computer’s contents, in line with statements made by Assistant US Lawyer Nicholas Roos on the U.S. Division of Justice (DOJ).
It reportedly takes weeks for prosecutors to retrieve Bankman-Fried’s Slack messages. It takes longer to acquire different information, and brokers should divide the contents of the laptop computer into separate elements because of the sheer quantity of knowledge on the pc.
Because of this, the Division of Justice has thus far been unable to start a privilege evaluation — that’s, a evaluation by people who usually are not engaged on the case. This course of determines whether or not sure data can be utilized within the case in opposition to Bankman-Fried.
Bankman-Fried’s lawyer reportedly expressed considerations about how prosecutors would deal with the info on the laptop computer. Nonetheless, the lawyer’s considerations are mentioned to be associated to the potential for a cooperating witness who may testify to advance the federal government’s case — not strictly whether or not the DOJ will be capable of kind via the laptop computer’s information totally.
The report from Enterprise Insider additionally signifies that prosecutors have offered over 6 million pages of discovery materials associated to the case thus far.
SBF court docket proceedings proceed
It’s unclear whether or not the DOJ and FBI’s difficulties are solely because of the quantity of knowledge, or whether or not their points are associated to encryption and privateness as nicely.
Though Bankman-Fried’s obvious data-hoarding habits haven’t beforehand been mentioned, his tendency to make use of secret and auto-deleting messaging apps beforehand grew to become a difficulty throughout his case. He now faces restrictions on his use of these apps.
Bankman-Fried’s fundamental trial will happen in October, however court docket proceedings are presently ongoing. Bankman-Fried lately pleaded not responsible to 13 federal indictments. Earlier, he was charged with violating anti-bribery legal guidelines associated to China.
Bankman-Fried faces as much as 115 years in jail for his function in FTX’s wrongdoing, although it’s not assured that he’ll face that full sentence even when convicted.