Mithat Can Kartlaşmış 
Sam Bankman-Fried, former FTX CEO and a leading figure in the crypto world returned to court and took steps regarding his lawyers’ conflict of interest. After serving his prison term, Bankman-Fried stepped into the courtroom for the first time to address potential conflicts associated with lawyers like Marc Mukasey and Torrey Young.
Bankman-Fried is expected to be ready for his sentencing hearing on March 28. After resigning as FTX CEO, he filed for bankruptcy and was convicted of fraud. Prosecutors recommend not continuing to the second hearing. His time to present his sentence proposals was extended until February 27.
According to a report by Inner City Press, Bankman-Fried reached an agreement on conflict-free legal representation with his lawyers Mukasey and Young. During this process, former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky also took a similar step. The hearing in the Southern District of New York was Bankman-Fried’s first appearance outside of prison. Although the media typically does not pay much attention to this situation, pictures of the former CEO with prisoners made it into the press.
While Mukasey and Young continue to represent Bankman-Fried and Mashinsky, lawyers like Christian Everdell and Mark Cohen withdrew. Bankman-Fried is scheduled to appear before Judge Lewis Kaplan for sentencing.
Former FTX CEO Bankman-Fried, known in the crypto sector as the “Golden Boy”, faced legal issues after the company went bankrupt. After the hearing in 2023, five more serious charges are expected, but prosecutors decided not to hold a second hearing in the public interest. Bankman-Fried’s defense team is expected to present their sentence proposals.