Caroline Ellison Seeks to Shield Supporters' Identities Ahead of Sentencing

As Ellison faces a pivotal sentencing hearing, her legal team moves to protect the privacy of supporters amid intense public scrutiny.

Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, is making headlines once again as her legal team has filed a motion to protect the identities of individuals submitting letters in her defense ahead of her sentencing hearing. The hearing, set for September 24, will mark a significant moment in the FTX fallout, where Ellison has already pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges.

In a court filing submitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on September 9, Ellison’s attorney, Anjan Sahni, requested that personally identifying details of supporters be redacted from the public record. These letters, sent to advocate for leniency, may include sensitive information about Ellison’s current living situation, which Sahni claims could expose her to further harassment.

Ellison has largely avoided the public eye since her 2022 guilty plea, which came after the high-profile collapse of FTX and the uncovering of fraudulent activities involving Alameda Research. Her testimony at Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial in October 2023 attracted widespread media attention, and she has since been the target of significant online scrutiny. This includes attempts by Bankman-Fried himself to leak private information about her.

Sahni’s filing highlights the intense interest surrounding Ellison’s case, noting that her friends and supporters should not face the threat of harassment or doxxing for advocating on her behalf. The legal team also seeks to redact details such as Ellison’s medical history, her residence, and other personal information from the court’s public records.

If the sentencing proceeds as planned, Ellison will become the third defendant in the FTX-related criminal case to face sentencing. Former FTX Digital Markets co-CEO Ryan Salame, who received a 90-month prison sentence earlier this year, is expected to report to prison on October 13. Meanwhile, Sam Bankman-Fried is currently appealing his own 25-year sentence.

Ellison’s plea deal, which includes charges of wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering, could result in a maximum sentence of 110 years in prison. However, many experts believe she will likely receive a more lenient sentence due to her cooperation with authorities and her testimony against key figures like Bankman-Fried.

As the sentencing date approaches, the case continues to attract considerable attention, particularly regarding the fates of other former FTX executives. Nishad Singh, FTX’s former engineering director, and Gary Wang, the company’s co-founder, are also scheduled for sentencing later this year.

photo source / Blockonome