Hearing examines whether Ryan Salame’s plea was improperly influenced as final cases from FTX scandal near conclusion
A former federal prosecutor involved in the high-profile prosecutions of FTX leadership has denied allegations that the government offered hidden assurances to protect the partner of an FTX executive during plea negotiations.
During an evidentiary hearing in the Southern District of New York, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon testified about the circumstances surrounding Ryan Salame’s guilty plea, which ultimately led to his sentence of more than seven years in prison.
Sassoon rejected claims that prosecutors had implied they would avoid pursuing charges against Salame’s then-girlfriend, political candidate Michelle Bond, if he cooperated. “I’m not in the business of gotcha or tricking people into pleading guilty,” she told the court, stressing that the plea was not conditioned on shielding Bond from legal exposure.
Defense Claims and Prosecutor’s Response
Bond has sought to have her charges dismissed, arguing that federal attorneys “induced a guilty plea” from Salame by signaling that further investigations would likely stop if he admitted guilt. Sassoon testified that the government told Salame it would “probably not continue to investigate his conduct” pending a plea — but emphasized that this statement did not extend to Bond and did not preclude future findings.
The charges against Bond stem from allegations that $400,000 in funds tied to FTX were routed into her 2022 congressional campaign. She faces accusations involving conspiracy, excessive donations and unlawful corporate contributions. She has pleaded not guilty.
Her case is one of the last unresolved criminal matters tied to the collapse of FTX in November 2022, marking the near end of a multiyear legal fallout.
Where FTX Executives Stand Now
Several former senior figures at the crypto exchange have already been sentenced.
— Ryan Salame began serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence in October 2024.
— Caroline Ellison, the former Alameda Research CEO, received two years after cooperating with prosecutors.
— Nishad Singh and Gary Wang pleaded guilty and were sentenced to time served.
Sam Bankman-Fried, however, continues to fight his case. The former FTX CEO is serving a 25-year sentence after being convicted on fraud and conspiracy charges. His legal team returned to court on Nov. 4 arguing that he was “never presumed innocent” and that the defense was blocked from presenting evidence about FTX’s financial condition.
Speculation Around a Possible Presidential Pardon
The case has also fueled public speculation after former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao received a presidential pardon in October. Some crypto users believe Bankman-Fried may attempt the same route, though no formal request has been confirmed.
As the final legal proceedings move forward, the hearing over Salame’s plea deal underscores how closely the remaining cases are being scrutinized — even years after FTX’s dramatic collapse.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.