House arrest isn’t getting any sweeter for disgraced FTX crypto founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
While the 2023 Super Bowl was notably absent crypto advertisements this year, the criminally charged 30-year-old, who was once the face of the industry, still found reason enough to tune in to America’s biggest game.
Now he’s paying for it.
That’s according to a recent letter by Sam Bankman-Fried’s attorney, Christian Everdell, filed Tuesday (Feb. 14) in response to government claims that his client on two occasions improperly used a VPN (virtual private network) to access the internet.
Read more: Bankman-Fried SEC Case Postponed Until After Criminal Trial
VPNs hide users’ IP addresses and encrypt their data, and U.S. prosecutors fear the disgraced entrepreneur could be using the privacy tool to improperly access foreign crypto sites or even the dark web while under supervised release on a $250 million bail at his parents’ home.
Bankman-Fried’s attorney says his client is only guilty of trying to watch the championship game between the NFL’s Chiefs and Eagles using his old Bahamas-based NFL Game Pass streaming account. Bankman-Fried just needed to use a VPN to access the international site.
“We wish to note that, on the specific dates referenced by the Government, our client used the VPN to access an NFL Game Pass international subscription that he had previously purchased when he resided in the Bahamas, so that he could watch NFL playoff games,” the letter from Bankman-Fried’s attorney Christian Everdell states. “On January 29, 2023, [Bankman-Fried] watched the AFC and NFC Championship games and on February 12, he watched the Super Bowl. This use of a VPN does not implicate any of the concerns raised by the Government.”
Restrictions around the former FTX CEO’s use of encrypted services were recently tightened after weeks of arguments between Bankman-Fried’s lawyers and U.S. prosecutors over his bail conditions.
As reported by PYMNTS, federal prosecutors have previously presented evidence that the one-time crypto executive used an encrypted messaging platform to contact the general counsel of FTX US.
Per his attorney’s letter, Bankman-Fried is “prepared to adopt a reasonable bail condition that allays any concerns of the Government or the Court about the use of a VPN.”
The government is wary of Bankman-Fried using VPNs as an on-ramp to access international crypto exchanges, communicate with potential witnesses, get to the dark web without detection, and transfer data anonymously.
“Our client will not use a VPN in the interim,” promises Everdell’s letter.
Neither Bankman-Fried nor Christian Everdell immediately replied to PYMNTS’ request for comment.
An oral hearing has been scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17.
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