Michelle Bond, the wife of former FTX executive Ryan Salame, is pushing back against a plea deal offered by the federal government, accusing prosecutors of using “stealth and deception” to secure her husband’s guilty plea. In a recent court filing at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Bond claims that federal prosecutors misled Salame into believing that she would not face campaign finance prosecution related to her 2022 congressional campaign if he pleaded guilty.
The court filing argues that the government cannot use its power to coerce a plea agreement and then fail to uphold its promises. It alleges that prosecutors engaged in deceptive tactics to obtain Salame’s guilty plea, misleading him about the existence of an active investigation in order to elicit statements that could be used against him.
As a result of the plea deal, Ryan Salame is facing seven years behind bars for his involvement in a scheme to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting service and make unlawful political contributions. Bond herself was charged with violating campaign finance laws in August 2024, accused of using a “sham consulting agreement” with FTX to illegally fund her congressional campaign.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams characterized Bond and her co-conspirator as attempting to fund her campaign through illicit means, including using funds from corporate sources and providing false information to cover up their actions. Despite Salame’s sentencing, it is claimed that he was unaware of the larger fraud scheme orchestrated by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The case has garnered attention and controversy, with Tucker Carlson highlighting the situation on social media. The post on Cryptonews highlights the ongoing legal battle and the allegations of deception and coercion in the plea deal. As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome remains uncertain, with both Bond and Salame fighting to defend their actions and reputations.