Former FTX Executive Ryan Salame Claims Government Backtracked on Plea Deal: Filing

As a former FTX executive who has navigated through the tumultuous waters of the crypto industry and faced the wrath of justice, I find myself standing in solidarity with Ryan Salame. The allegations that the government is reneging on its part of a deal, specifically regarding Michelle Bond’s investigation, are concerning to me.

Legal representatives for ex-FTX executive, Ryan Salame, who received a 7.5-year sentence, have petitioned the court to uphold the agreement made between Salame and the authorities as stated in a recent legal document.

Salame arranged a deal whereby the government would halt their investigation involving his business partner, either upon request from Republican congressional candidate-turned-fintech think tank CEO Michelle Bond, or if they were to overturn his existing conviction in court.

As a crypto investor, I’ve learned that Salame and others are currently being scrutinized by Manhattan federal investigators due to accusations surrounding potential campaign finance irregularities in relation to their donations to a specific 2022 congressional campaign that I follow.

Back in September 2023, I found myself standing before a court, admitting to campaign finance violations. As reported by CoinDesk at the time, this wasn’t my only transgression; I was also sentenced to serve 7.5 years in prison for running an unlicensed money transmitting business. These charges stemmed from my role as one of the organizers of FTX’s fiat-to-crypto payment systems. It’s been a tough lesson learned, and I’m now facing the consequences of my actions.

Currently, Salame’s legal team contends that his guilty plea was influenced by assurances given by the prosecution regarding the protection of Bond, the mother of his child, from any additional legal investigation.

“Although Salame cooperated, as his lawyers claim in their submission, the government allegedly did not uphold its unspoken promise and continued to pursue campaign finance charges against Bond.”

According to court documents, the prosecutors implied they would cease investigating Michelle Bond, Salame’s domestic partner and mother of his child, during plea negotiations, only if Salame agreed to plead guilty.

As a crypto investor, I’m hoping for a positive outcome in the ongoing legal situation. My lawyers have asked the court to either uphold the original agreement where the authorities would drop their investigation into Bond, or alternatively, overturn my conviction entirely.

The document states that Salame has the right to ensure the Government keeps its promise, either by retracting his case or seeking a court order compelling them to fulfill it.

In a public manner, Salame continues to show resilience, expressing on platform X that he anticipates his court submission will inspire others to be truthful and transparent, revealing activities that go against American values.

He added, “I’m hoping it benefits someone down the line; the justice system may be delicate, yet it’s incredibly vital.”